The Blog of Stuart Pearl Photography

When Sparks Fly - Innerbelt Bridge Project

2011-11-25T21:32:00.001-05:00

Welders are fascinating to watch. They create their own constellation of stars that appear to swarm like a cloud of angry fireflies. They can cut steel or join beams. It all depends upon the task at hand.

This steelworker is cutting sheet pile. Unlike the Super "H" piles which are driven down to bedrock and form the base of the bridge piers on the Innerbelt project, sheet pile is used to hold back earth in areas that may become unstable.

According to the Project Team: "We use them as a sort of temporary retaining wall when soil conditions or the terrain makes it difficult to dig our traditional excavation for the pile driving and footer construction. Each piece of sheet pile is driven into the soil with the long edge overlapping the previous pile."

Sheet pile stacked near bluffs overlooking Pier 10 construction of Westbound bridge

Here the sheet pile has already been driven into the softer earth at Canal Road. Steelworkers are cutting them to the desired height. By contrast, the Super H piles have a much different look.

The super " H " piles used here are the largest ever used for a project of this nature. When construction is finished, 20 miles of piling will have been used for the new Westbound bridge.

As a kid one of my favorite toys was the "Kenner Girder & Panel Building Set." It had small plastic pieces just like the "H' piles. We called them "I" beams and you could assemble a wide variety of bridges and buildings with the kit.

Here a steelworker is grinding the top of an " H " pile. It has already been driven into the pit that will be the base of Pier #6. The ends (tops) of these piles must be flat when additional piles are welded onto them. Each pile will then be a continuous piece measuring approximately 175 - 200' in length all the way down to bedrock.

Above is Pier #9 at W 3rd St. on September 16. Steelworkers are finishing the rebar work inside the cage atop both legs of the pier. Once the rebar insertion is completed, concrete is pumped into the top cap. The steel comprising this top cap weighs 217,000lbs. It will hold 1100 yards of concrete.

In this September 16 photo concrete is being pumped into the top of the leg that will form one side of Pier #8. The exposed rebar will eventually hook into the "top cap" portion of the structure.

Looking out from the bluffs near the Fireman's Museum you can see a clear view of the bridge piers taking shape in the Flats valley. Pier #9 at W. 3rd St. still "wears" its top cap insulating blankets in this October 7 photograph. Those blankets help keep the concrete temperature even as it cools after being poured. If it gives off heat too quickly it won't cure properly and strength will be lost.

This view from the Hope Memorial bridge shows Piers 9, 8 and 7 in their various stages of construction. Nine is the furthest along, and you can see the "H" piles being driven for the base of Pier seven at the far right.

A forest of " H " piles seems to rise from the site of the old Marathon gas station adjacent to the fireman's museum. As each pile is welded to the length before it, the pile driver hammers it down towards bedrock. At this location that point is 200 - 225" deep.

Standing at the site while the pile driver is working is quite an experience. Without earplugs the sound is unbearable. Fortunately I keep some in the car for this purpose. At a distance of 50' you can feel the earth reverberating up your entire torso with every strike.

Measurements are marked off on the " H " piles so the steelworkers know how far each has been driven into the ground.

The insulation jackets have been removed from Pier 9 in this October 28 picture. The concrete has cured sufficiently to allow removal of the side forms comprising the top cap. Only the center piece remains.

November 4, 2011 - Both legs and the center top cap of Pier 9 are now fully visible. This is the first major above ground structure of the West bound bridge to be nearly complete. Small decorative indentations called "reveals" can be seen at the top of the pier.

Artist's conception of completed bridge - Photo Courtesy of the Innerbelt Project Team

The five cantilever beams that will support the roadbed will line up with these marks. This new I-90 deck will be banked at this point; the engineers call it Super Elevation. The square structures atop the pier that vary in height will help achieve this.

Driving along Canal Road you can see what 50+ years of weather have done to the piers of the current Innerbelt bridge.

The Lorain Carnegie Bridge (Hope Memorial) lands on the east bank quite close to where the new West bound bridge will touch down. Here the early morning light is washing across its white columns.

Rebar is critical for adding strength to the poured concrete. Much of it is assembled on the concrete pier pads and in the legs. But a lot of it is also "woven" on the ground prior to insertion in the forms. The steelworkers can work with the rebar anywhere. But having room to work on the ground is safer and much faster in some instances.

After the necessary rebar patterns have been assembled on their frames, cranes lift them into place. The steelworkers then wire them together and attach then to the pier legs.

This view is from the west bank slope near the former site of Cleveland Cold Storage. It was taken on November 21. Just left of center you can see the two legs that will comprise Pier #5. The Norfolk & Southern rail trestle is at the left.

Welding continues everywhere within the project. On the West bank not far from the University Inn, workmen are reinforcing the river bulkheads with a variant of sheet pile.

This slope had been a problem over the years. Not only did it push against the bulkheads, but it placed pressure on the piers of the current Innerbelt bridge. Here they are using a type of crane mounted vibrating pile driver.

I watched in fascination as the McKee Sons bulk carrier was pulled backwards by a river tug. Two welders did their work as the bow swung closer and closer to their scaffolding.

I don't know if they were aware how close the freighter passed. From where I stood it appeared not more than 25 feet.

The current Innerbelt bridge will remain standing for a couple more years. Traffic will be moved to the new Westbound bridge once that new structure is completed in the Fall of 2013. But walking amongst its old concrete piers still affords interesting views of the Flats.

* My thanks and appreciation to the Innerbelt Bridge Project Team for providing much of the technical information found in these articles.

Indiana Road Trip - Halloween Time

2011-10-21T23:25:00.020-04:00

Weekend road trips are nice. They break up the regular routine, give you a fresh prospective on new places, and provide an opportunity to meet new people.

This past Fall Jeanne and I travelled to Bloomington, Indiana where our daughter and husband live. Bloomington is a wonderful college "town." It has interesting architecture, great restaurants around their town square and is surrounded by beautiful green spaces.

We knew Jennifer had married into a wonderful extended family after we met them at the wedding. They live in Bedford which is a rural community just outside of Bloomington. We really didn't appreciate how nice they were until we were invited to their home for dinner, and then some olympic pumpkin carving.

And we are talking about some serious gourd surgery. They had set up tables in the middle of the garage across from their ATV's, covered everything in newspaper, handed out the knives, and then the seeds started flying.

Indiana University is surrounded by beautiful woodlands. Some of their cross country tracks run through these areas.

Another wonderful place to visit in the area is Nashville, Indiana. Some people refer to it as an historic Hoosier artists colony. Others call it a tourist trap. Either way, it does have interesting art and craftwork for sale and on display.

Self Portrait in garden "gazing ball."

If Jeanne and I are in a shopping mood we may stop at the Lodi, Ohio outlet mall on the trip back to Cleveland. The place is literally out in the middle of corn fields.

This poor farmer waited a bit too long for his wife to finish shopping.

Fire Balls Outside My Window

2011-10-05T21:17:00.028-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2011 - Click on Images to Enlarge

I don't often see fireballs outside my window in downtown Cleveland. And this went on for a couple of weeks. Parts of Cleveland's E. 9th St seemed to get blown up on schedule each day. But there were no sirens or ambulances.

Marvel Comics had come to town, and Hollywood was filming the new Avengers movie. For a little over a month parts of New York's 42nd street had been recreated just down the street from the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.
All of this was going on about four blocks from my office window. We are not talking about the old British spy series with Mr. Steed and Mrs. Peel. This action involved Captain America, Thor, Ironman, Nick Fury and a host of bad guys.

Back in August movie trailers, crains and traffic barricades began showing up on E 9th St. These were accompanied by flatbed trucks delivering shot up NYC cabs and other damaged vehicles. Fake New York City storefronts were also placed in front of Cleveland shops, and wrecked "movie" masonry was hoisted into place.

It was pretty easy to walk by the set during setup. You could see explosive devices being rigged to flip cars and other tricks of the trade. At the same time, awnings were being installed on some store fronts to give them a "New York" look. Parts of that block never looked better.

Ivan Schwarz, Executive Director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission was seen on the set at this time.

Small cranes and tow motors moved up and down the street daily arranging "wreckage" and movie props according to the script.

The action was about 1500+ feet from my 14th floor window, and actual details were hard to see. Rather than get a stiff arm holding by holding my camera and long lens, I mounted everything on a tripod and aimed it at the set. I also installed a remote release near my desk so I could quickly fire off a few shots if I saw action being filmed.

Usually I wasn't quick enough to capture the start of a sequence. But speeding police cars and bright camera lights were an indicator that something was about to happen. I'd start shooting at those moments. Here you can see giant diffusers lighting a scene being flooded with "move smoke" as extra's ran about.

The local National Guard was actually called in to play a role and arrived with full kit and vehicles.

Explosions were fast and without warning. Employees in the Medical Mutual building overlooking the set would typically hear a countdown prior to the blast, but there was no warning sound at my distance. The fireballs would appear and disipate in a matter of seconds. Observers said the explosions were just loud "whooshes." Convincing sound would be added later.

How much of E. 9th street will avoid the cutting room floor? We'll just have to wait until the movie debuts next summer to see how much of Cleveland survives, even if it was made to look like New York's 42nd street.

Construction Up Close at the Innerbelt Bridge

2011-08-13T23:04:00.028-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2011 - Click on Images to Enlarge

Think of multi-ton jello molds. But substitute concrete for the jello, and use steel rebar in place of ground carrots. These yellow forms will be used for the curved part of the Innerbelt Bridge piers forming the "caps" beneath the roadway.

Once the workers finish assembling the sections, they will be hoisted into place around the rebar being held in place by the concrete pier base. Concrete will then be pumped into the double wall structure and form a hollow pier.

"The piers are hollow. The base is solid concrete, but forming the piers that way would add unnecessary weight and cost." This is what the Project Team explained to me.

The myriad strands of embedded rebar give the pier added strength. A concrete release spray is applied to the inside of the forms. It is similar in function to non-stick cooking "Pam". Once the concrete has dried it will allow the forms to be more easily removed.

Rebar rods stacked and ready for installation

I was a blueberry for this photo trip. Blueberries are site personnel who are with blue hardhats. The color means the person has been on the job site for less than 90 days. We are the newbies. I noticed I was surrounded by "white hats." These are the experienced workers and have been on the job site longer than three months.

Pier 9 - 7/29/201.

There are approximately 200-300 workers on the Innerbelt Bridge project each day. They keep a wary eye on the blueberries.

"Here are your safety glasses, put on this safety vest and always watch the ground wherever you step. The earth may be unstable. There are rocks, pieces of metal and construction equipment everywhere. Keep an eye overhead also." These were my instructions for the day.

Concrete forms with anti-stick coating ready for assembly

I was now street legal on the Innerbelt construction site, closely supervised by the Project Team for this tour. Previously my images had been limited to the sidewalk sidelines.

Iron workers installing rebar on Pier 9.

Wanting to legally and safely get closer to the action, I contacted the Project Team. They granted me supervised access, provided me with the proper safety gear, and answered my questions.

These workers are expelling water from the cooling pipes which are embedded in the concrete pads. The pipes had been threaded through the rebar prior to the concrete pour.

Once the water has been removed, the pipes will be filled with grout that will harden. In this way there will be no moisture to expand and crack the pier during the cold winter months.

Cooling pipes embedded in concrete and rebar.

When concrete dries it generates heat which is completely normal. However it can sometimes reach temperatures that are 20F - 50F degrees higher than the ambient. If the heat builds up too fast, the concrete will not cure properly and it can crack.

The huge amounts of concrete poured into each pad generate a great deal of heat. To complicate matters, the center of the pads get hotter than the edges. Cool water is pumped through these pipes to compensate for this build up. This helps reduce the center temperature, bringing it closer to that at the edge. Insulating bags are also wrapped around the edges to help equalize the cooling temperature.

"H" piles near Pier 5 ready for installation - 7/29/2011

Pier 5 piles - 7/29/2011

This is why contractors recommend that you water your concrete for about a week after you've had a new driveway poured. The amount of concrete is less but the principle is the same. Your driveway will last longer and be less likely to crack.

Pier 5 piles near Norfolk & Southern railroad bridge.

It was an eerie sensation, "feeling" the H piles being hammered into the ground. I was standing on an embankment about 150' from the Pier #10 site. Each time the pile driver struck the 60' six ton "H" pile, the ground vibrated up against the bottoms of my feet.

The sound was almost deafening as it echoed off the old innerbelt bridge. With each strike the pile dropped several more inches into the ground.

When the pile moves less than one inch after 20 strikes, the operator knows he has hit bedrock and stops the pile driver. The Walsh crane driving the piles is so heavy that large timbers are laid over the ground to keep the earth from becoming too compressed. The counterweights alone weigh 118,000 lbs.

Site of Cleveland Cold Storage - 7/29/2011

Here you can see the center piece of the pier cap that will top Pier 9. The darker non-stick coating is visible on the curve. This will help in its removal after the concrete has dried.

The center and two sides of the cap will weigh 217,000 lbs when fully assembled. A single crane will lift each component separately, and the iron workers will bolt them together once they are atop the piers.

Pier 9 with tops beginning to flare - 8/12/2007

The assembled pier cap will be filled with 1100 cubic yards of concrete. It will take approximately 110 truck loads of concrete to complete that section. By comparison the footings use about 640 cubic yards.

Artist's conception of completed bridge span - photo courtesy of Innerbelt Bridge Project.

Panorama of Flats valley, W. 3rd St. at center - click to enalarge.

Dinosaurs in the Mist

2011-08-06T18:51:00.048-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2011 - Click on Images to Enlarge

It was like a misty prehistoric forest. Steel heads rose and fell, biting into chunks of concrete and rebar as rain covered their bodies. The high velocity spray was like a cascade from some primordial waterfall.

July 19, 2011

Cleveland Cold Storage sat here for more than 75 years. Now only mechanical jaws foraged in the rubble strewn landscape, roaming the mounds of the old building, picking at its carcass.

The ground will have to be cleared and stabilized before bridge construction reaches this land. The near slope has been one of the problem areas over the years, putting pressure on the river bulkheads.

In the past lateral ground pressure had slightly shifted the expansion joints on the current Innerbelt bridge. This required complicated repairs. Regrading the slope down to the river will avoid these conditions in the future.

July 19, 2011

In my July 17 blog I had images of wrecking machinery that resembled the carnivorous dinosaurs of millenia past. These pictures show the less aggressive creatures, browsing through the fields of smashed concrete and steel.

Carefully picking their way through the concrete they will separate stone from steel, the separate materials to be recycled into some other project.

July 19, 2011

7/1/2011
7/1/2011

The completed bridge piers of the new structure will be stained white. This will present a bright canvas for aesthetic lighting that will highlight the bridge architecture. That will likely begin in the fall of 2013 when the (first) westbound bridge is completed with its 5 lanes.

July 19 - Workers continue to install the rebar reinforcing rods at W. 3rd St. on what will become bridge pier #9. Above this section the cement forms will be installed for the curved portion of the pier that will flair out to hold the roadway.

Decorative grooves have been imprinted into the concrete as part of the design work for each pier.

August 5, 2011

Several months into the project the path of the new Westbound bridge is becoming apparent as it crosses the Flats valley. This view from Canal Road shows the "H" Piers that will form the foundation of bride Pier #10. These will be pounded into the ground until bedrock is reached. The current Innerbelt bridge is to the left. The Lorain-Carnegie (Hope Memorial) bridge can be seen on the right.

With the Nortfolk & Southern Railway trestle in the distance, Pier #9 is changing shape as the curved cement forms are being attached.

August 5, 2011

The forms are coated with a special material to allow easier removal once the cement has dried.

A forest of "H" beams rises from location of what will be bridge Pier #10 just below and west of Canal Road. The two eastern most Guardians of Transportation can be seen flanking the Hope Memorial Bridge in the background.

7/29/2011

The former site of Cleveland Cold Storage seems nearly picked clean by the excavation team.

The basement foundation walls can now be clearly seen. These will have to be completely removed and the ground stabilized in preparation for the westbound bridge supports.

The diggers cruise the edge of Tremont, removing the last portion of Cold Storage.

Just West of the University Inn and adjacent to the W.14th St. Innerbelt ramp sits the Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation. It's beautiful golden domes illuminate the landscape even on cloudy days.

The excavators have begun stabilizing the hillside on the west bank just below Tremont. When the new Eastbound bridge is completed in 2016 it will land near this area.

Tremonts unique neighborhood displays much decorative character. Sometimes you will find simple artistic expression attached to a yard fence.

For comprehensive viewing, all of my Innerbelt Construction images can be seen HERE.

From Pavement to Ponies - N. Chagrin Photo Exhibit

2011-07-31T21:33:00.013-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2011 - Click on Image to Enlarge

Do you feel like a stroll in the park followed by a walk through a photo gallery? Stop into the North Chagrin Nature Center before the end of August and you'll see a variety of photos featuring views of the Eastern United States.

There are Cleveland landmarks mixed with images of Chincoteague ponies. Views of the New River Gorge hang opposite the Appalacian trail. And a last view of the old Cleveland Cold Storage building shows it's crumbling detail.

Carl Finer viewing gallery images

The nature center sits between Sunset Pond and the boardwalk marsh and can be reached via SOM Center Road.

The exhibit was assembled today with the help of my good friend Don Nikolai (above left). What would normally have taken more than three hours was done much more quickly. The Center is open daily from 9:30 am - 5 pm.

Cold Storage: Going....going.....gone....

2011-07-25T19:39:00.038-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2011 - Click on Images to Enlarge

It was a stunning sight. Normally you see images like this on the news. They are buildings found in a war zone or a Hollywood movie. Sometimes they are the result of a violent bombing.

I couldn't help but think of that very sad day in Oklahoma City back in 1995. So I had an emotional jolt when I framed this image.

The old Cleveland Cold Storage is one of 23 major structures that will have to be demolished to make room for the new Innerbelt Bridge. And once the visible floors have been removed, the basement areas will also have to be dealt with to insure stable terrain for pier construction.

As soon as the Cold Storage demolition has been completed, workers will begin stabilizing the hill that slopes down to the Cuyahoga. Over time the shifting hillside has closed the expansion joints on the existing bridge. It's then been necessary to jack up and reposition parts of the bridge to fix the problem.

By regrading the banks, pressure will be reduced on the river bulkheads which is critical to river traffic. To accomplish this it will be necessary to remove more than 200,000 cubic yards of earth. This equates to over 13,000 dump trucks.

July 1, 2011

Those Tremont residents close to the Cuyahoga can easily see the construction work as it approaches from the East. Pit excavation for support pier #8 is visible on the east bank of the river near the Norfolk and Southern railroad trestle.

Pier #8 Pit Construction

July 1, 2011

This is why Cleveland Cold Storage had to go. It occupies the exact footprint where the new west bound bridge will land when it crosses the river into Tremont.

July 19, 2011

As of mid July, only a rubble heap of concrete and rebar marked the spot where Cleveland Cold Storage looked out over the Flats.

Cold Storage Meets Alien

2011-07-17T20:08:00.050-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2011 - Click on Images to Enlarge

Strange and powerful machines have been the fodder of many childhood nightmares. They tower over us with their open, menacing jaws and giant steel teeth.

I had some of those bad dreams in my own childhood. But more recently I am reminded of the movie "Alien." In one scene that creature bursts from the chest of an unsuspecting crewmember.

At the site of Cleveland Cold Storage last week, a similar evil looking device was ripping the flesh and bones from that old landmark. At times it was as if the biting head would pause to examine it's handiwork before plunging in for another bite.

This old landmark on the West bank of the Cuyahoga is directly in the path of the new Westbound Innerbelt bridge. Within the next few weeks it will be completely reduced to rubble. Perhaps these old bones will gain new life as part of Cleveland's breakwall. Or maybe the concrete will provide the foundation of a new lakeshore dike for wildlife.

Cleveland Innerbelt Bridge Project - June 2011

2011-06-23T20:45:00.056-04:00

Remember this view of Cleveland's Inner Belt Bridge. It will be changing in the next few years. Before the end of the decade it will be gone after 50+ years of service, replaced by two new bridges. This will be the largest transportation project in Ohio history.

Bridges have always fascinated me. As a young boy my brother and I would build them in our backyard, digging roads with our Tonka trucks, and creating rivers and lakes with the garden hose.

My brother Arnold and cousin Alan building cities in the "Dirt Place" in 1960.

When I got older I was finally able to drive on real bridges. From their high vantage points I discovered fascinating details of Cleveland's skyline. And our city has a wonderful variety of bridge structures with architecture going back nearly 150 years.

The first of 14 massive bridge piers are now being built across the Flats valley which will support the new twin Inner Belt bridges. Steel piles are being driven about 200 feet down to bedrock to provide anchor points for each of the piers. Each steel pile is 55 feet in length and weighs about 12,000 pounds.

Concrete and rebar base of brige pier.

Worker in "pier pit."

Construction is now focused on the Westbound bridge which should be completed in 2013-14. It is being built just north of the existing bridge.

The old Cleveland Cold Storage building sits on the west bank of the Cuyahoga and is an early casualty of the construction. It sits directly in the path of the Tremont landing spot for the bridge. Built in 1927-1928 it was a huge insulated storage facility that was used for food distribution throughout the city. It played a major role in Cleveland's food services industry.

The present bridge carries about 119,000 cars each day. Sometimes a lone cyclist will brave the narrow metal sidewalk . When this man rode by, there was barely room for me to squeeze up against the railing while staring at the Cuyahoga river 273 feet below. I really don't like heights.

Storm coming up from the South of the Innerbelt and Hope Memorial bridges.

When Photography is a Challenge

2011-06-16T21:13:00.048-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2011 - "While Healing" - Click on Image to Enlarge

Last winter an illness prevented me from doing my usual cold weather photography projects. That is all behind me now and things are back to normal. But at the time it forced me to modify my approach to capturing interesting viewpoints.

I often hike on challenging terrain to get my urban and rural landscape images. Bad weather can easily complicate a photo shoot. And that type of photography was not practical for me this past winter. However I still wanted to pursue my craft. I just had to come up with a less demanding approach to creating unique images. This caused me to look at the world in a different way.

Photos above: Galleria Courtyard, downtown Cleveland over a two month period.

I began studying subjects that were much closer at hand. How could I represent everyday scenes in a more unique way that would set them apart from mundane snapshots?

Most of my time was spent indoors during this period. Windows were my primary view on the world and the zoom lens was my tool for reaching into it. I begain to closely study the shifts in weather and subtle changes in lighting as winter progressed. I chose views that I saw all the time and began carefully planning when they would receive the most interesting light. The weather was always a factor and I spent weeks simply studying these views.

During the day I have a south facing window that looks down E. 9th St. all the way to the steel mills in the Flats. Winter can add its magic touch to this view. The early morning light and very low temperatures will often create dramatic effects with steam vents and smoke stacks.

Looking South on E 9th St. at 8:00 A.M. on Feb. 4.

A similar view shot at 2:25 P.M. on Feb. 14.

E. 9th St. at the Galleria

Federal Building Plaza

On cloudy days the flat and uniform lighting can focus your attention on textures and geometry found in the urban snowscape. Solitary walkers on E. 9th move about these patterns.

The "Grandma Tree" seen from my Front Door

This last image was captured from the comfort of my front hallway. We'd had a sleet storm earlier that day. None of the natural early morning or late afternoon light I prefer was present. But I was intrigued by the illumination of our landscape floods. They provided a wonderful pattern of reflection that contrasted against the night backdrop. I simpy mounted my camera on a tripod, opened the door and took about three dozen shots before I settled on the final exposure and composition.

Butler Museum to Exhibit "Luminaries Watching"

2011-06-08T22:51:00.016-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2011 - "Luminaries Watching" - Click on Image to Enlarge

What makes a good photograph? How does an image create interest? Photographers strive for impact. This is the stopping power that draws a viewer in. Hopefully the picture generates questions and some sense of wonder.

Perhaps the judge for the Butler Museum 75th National Midyear Competition considered these notions when he chose my photo to hang in this year's exhibition. Or maybe he just liked the colors. Either way I was happy to be selected for the 2011 exhibit. It runs from June 28 - August 28.

Successful images are unique in their composition. Sometimes a photographer can take a common everyday view and turn it into a mystery. Or he may crop a mundane scene in a way that displays strange or unfamiliar shapes. This is part of the challenge faced by the photographer who is always honing his craft.

Cleveland is ripe with fascinating imagery. It's just a matter of spotting visual opportunities and combining the right elements of timing, light and composition. Done creatively, the viewer will pause and reflect on what is before him.

I'm a big fan of public art. I believe a city needs these efforts to soften its rough edges and provide counterpoint to the massive concrete structures and asphalt rivers. And Cleveland is fortunate to have a number of these public art gems. I discovered this one last year at Playhouse Square near WVIZ/WCPN Ideastream. It is "Chorus Line Luminaries" by urban designer and public artist Stephen Manka. His sculpture marks the Playhouse Square RTA bus stop.

Last year while doing some volunter photography for Ideastream, Luminaries' flashing lights caught my attention. It made me pause and wonder: "Now that's really interesting... what is it doing? Is their a rythm to the lighting. Now what if I waited for a different sequence of lights and aimed my lens at this angle...."

The Bloomin' Holidays

2011-01-14T19:29:00.020-05:00

© Stuart Pearl 2011 - Click on Image to Enlarge

We thought Santa and Mrs. Claus had stopped at this Gatesmills home to do laundry. These bloomers didn't need any starch - it was an extremely cold day. You can see some pretty interesting things when out for a drive on Cleveland's east side.

Twenty miles west wind and snow had created other patterns. Those of you who work in downtown Cleveland may recognize this place when grabbing lunch, but not from this angle. Do you know what it is?

Winter Tracery From the Cleveland Sight Center

2011-01-12T21:59:00.007-05:00

Winter Tracery © Stuart Pearl 2011 - (Click on Image to Enlarge)

For years the Cleveland Sight Center has offered a variety of holiday greeting cards based on the works of local artists. These include the talents of Hector Vega, Jay Patel, Viktor Schreckengost and many others. I was fortunate to add my contribution again this year with "Winter Tracery."

Profits from the sale these cards benefit Sight Center projects in our community.

Ingenuity Falls - Festival Views 2010

2010-10-01T23:15:00.054-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2010 - (Click on Images to Enlarge)

A 60' wide curtain of flame seemed to envelope the riverbank. The red torrent poured from grand old steel that had marked the heyday of Cleveland industry. Rock music and crowd sounds drifted from the source of the falls. This was the Detroit Superior Bridge, site of Cleveland's 2010 Ingenuity Festival.

Nautica Queen on the Cuyahoga

I'm always looking for new photo projects in Cleveland. I search for interesting light. It is the type which combines with our everyday skyline shapes and textures in a way that creates unique and interesting perspectives of these commonplace scenes.

I try to celebrate the mundane in ways that are visually unique and memorable. My friend Don Nikolai and I spent last Saturday night walking the length of the Veterans Memorial Bridge as well as the West Bank of the Cuyahoga. It was quite a spectacle. We wanted to check out this year's Ingenuity Festival.

Don Nikolai on the West Bank

Musical sounds, strobing lights and the aroma of food enveloped us we strolled the lower level of the bridge. Sometimes we walked on concrete. Other times a metal grate was the only thing separating us from the river. You could see the water splashing into the Cuyahoga ten stories below.

The old Cleveland Subway system once travelled this lower bridge level, providing transit from Superior Aveneue on the East bank to riders at the W. 25th and W. 9th Street stations. The rails were torn out though in the mid 1950's when the stations were closed.

Ingenuity Fest tried to present something for everybody. A very diverse crowd of visitors seemed to enjoy what was offered. Everything from performance art to gallery hangings, stage production and light shows were available to view. Old utility rooms and power closets were turned into display areas for sculpture and other creative efforts.

Sculpture could even be fabricated from common plastic cups and then artistically illuminated. Moving the festival to the lower level (old Cleveland Subway) of the Detroit Superior bridge was an innovative decision. The venue provided an exhibit stage nearly 3/4 of a mile in length while providing stunning views of the Flats and Cleveland skyline. Combined with the festival waterfall and ongoing light shows, the onlookers were always near some sort of visual treat.

Geared turntable of the Center Street Swing Bridge

Was Ingenuity Festival a success? I don't know how you would quantify that. But Don and I saw thousands of Clevelanders enjoying themselves talking, interacting and transfixed by the creative efforts of a lot of great local talent.

Great Balls of Fair!

2010-09-15T21:09:00.031-04:00

Jeanne and I mark the end of summer by visiting several local festivals. One of our favorites is the Geauga County Fair. It has a great "country feel" and the jaunt out to Burton, Ohio is always a pleasant drive from the city. It's also a great place to graze for dinner, wander the merchant booths, see interesting livestock and just watch family and kids having fun.

This year we saw something new and quite entertaining. Imagine a large shallow pool holding a bunch of clear, floating beach balls, each containing a young, energetic child running in place like a hamster in a wheel. We have no idea what this is called, but the kids were having a riot. Their young parents were enjoying the sight too.

Perhaps Jeanne and I are getting older, but we had other thougts as we watched the happy chaos. "Gee, I wonder how much air those things hold?" The kids were obviously hopped up on cotton candy, Pepsi, icecream and other fair food as they twirled in place. And the balls were sealed with a large zipper to keep the water out. Jeanne told me not to worry.

"That's ok, they probably unzip the kids right before they start getting lethargic and a little blue in the face." My wife always knows when to say the right thing.

Summer's Last Adventure

2010-09-08T21:39:00.023-04:00

"Exploring"

Boys and creeks seem to go naturally together. I remember as a young boy how streams and ponds drew me like a magnet. Small fish, tadpoles and frogs were wonderful treasures to be stalked and captured.

Perhaps this is the last summer adventure before school starts for these young fellows: exploring the creek. Jeanne and I decided to spend Labor Day hiking around Tinkers Creek and Viaduct Park. While enjoying Bridal Veil Falls we saw these young fellows walking the creekbed in search of surprises.

"Discovering"

Descending the terraced shale they stopped to inspect clear pools of water. Maybe they saw minnows or small crayfish.

"Celebrating"

Eventually they find a bare tree branch, long since stripped of it's bark, adorning the creek as seasonal driftwood. Hoisting their prize in victory they give a yell and proceed down the stream.

Jeann and I took a more sedate route down the gravel path. One of the overlook decks provided a safer view of Bridal Veil Falls. The area also has some enjoyable loop trails and we took advantage of those.

Backyard Fountain

2010-07-21T20:13:00.048-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click on Images to Enlarge)

Jeanne and I have always enjoyed water sounds - as long as they aren't created by leaky roofs, faucets, or gutters. Streams and fountains can offer a welcome break from the mowers and leaf blowers of suburbia.

For several years we had considered building a backyard pond. Since I'm pretty handy with home projects Jeanne thought this would be easily within my talents. Enter the "Honey-Do-List."

Our property had a number of issues though. Numerous backyard trees would mean lots of seed pods, debris and leaves in a pond. We quickly decided against that maintenance headache. We'd also have to contend with obnoxious surface roots which would make digging all but impossible in the spot next to our patio.

Visiting local garden centers we came up with the idea of a do-it-yourself fountain. They can be small, require little or no digging and can be placed almost anywhere.

You can take the easy route and buy the ready-made water feature. Lowes and Home Depot have "fountain in a box"for less than $100: take it home, add water, plug it in, and you have instant burbling. But where's the challenge in that?

Jeanne and I tend do home improvement projects from scratch. They always take longer. However, they are much more creative and we get exactly what we want.

The first step in building our fountain was to find two large, glazed flower pots at our local garden center. We also bought a small pump, tubing, about 35lbs of decorative granite rocks, and then began preparing the area for installation.

The flower bed where we intended to build the fountain is plagued by tree roots. A large silver maple provides great shade to our picnic table but constantly raises patio blocks with it's shallow roots. I was concerned that future growth would shift the fountain's base.

To deal with this I dug a four foot diameter hole about 10" deep. This was filled with about 1,000 pounds of gravel. Jeanne and I had gradually worked up to the challenge of pouring so much gravel by having moved eight yards of topsoil into the backyard last month for another project. Still, we hit the Advil pretty hard that night.

Once poured and leveled, the gravel bed was now ready for the other items. I next added a four foot diameter Bluestone pedestal I'd had cut into a circle by my local stone mason. This was made from four squares, each weighing about 50 pounds. I made sure these were level and then Jeanne and I added the two pots.

The second smaller pot was inserted in the larger one, being raised into position with paver bricks.

We then installed a pump, placed decorative rocks, added water, plugged it in........and watched it leak all over the place. This was a problem since my intent was to build a fountain and not a sprinkler system.

To mount the water pump in the base of the large pot, it is necessary to thread the power cord through the pot's drain hole and then seal it. The latter was not done very well with the plumbers puddy I'd been provided.

Several hours later the pots were drained, dried, and ready for more caulking. This time there was no obvious sign of dripping. And that evening we had our first patio dinner by the fountain.

The appearance and sound of our backyard fountain far exceeded our expectations; we were very happy with the results. It blended in perfectly with our landscape and sounded very relaxing.

But within a day, Jeanne noticed the water level was slowly going down..... again. Since I didn't see an obvious leak, I told her it must be due to evaporation and the large thirsty birds in the neighborhood. She didn't buy that story.

We soon noticed the base of the pedestal was always damp. And that's when we realized the flaw in our project. Although we were very careful to select fired and glazed pots, we forgot that these pots are not glazed on the BOTTOM. The clay is hardenned throughout from being fired, but it still retains it's porous nature. Water was slowly seeping out through that bottom area.

Fortunately the craft shops know all about this deficiency. They sell latex spray-on sealers designed exactly for this purpose.

We'll be disassembling the fountain in October to protect it from winter. When it's been thoroughly dried we will make the "modifications." Untill then we continue to enjoy relaxing patio dinners by our fountain. It really is very soothing. And if you feel like building one yourself, drop me an email and I'll tell you what to do........ and what to avoid.

UPDATE: The leak no longer seems so important. Yesterday we discovered a massive algae bloom had exploded in both pots. The combination of bright sunlight and high temperatures had created an excellent growing medium. Jeanne couldn't drive to Home Depot fast enough to buy a pint of algacide. And once we finished with the dinner dishes, we began scrubbing the fountain's rocks. Relaxing indeed.

Spring & Early Summer Images from Cleveland

2010-05-17T22:33:00.043-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click Image to Enlarge)

Spring in Cleveland brings interesting weather, fascinating cloud patterns, and high contrast light. The low angle sun often provides interesting photo opportunities.

This image of Frank Geary's building on the Case Western Reserve campus was shot one early cloudy morning on my way to work. That's a great time to do photography. The sun is just coming up and it's low angle creates wonderful shadows, textures and highlights. Shot with an ultra wide angle lens and a circular polarizer the building looks like something from a Tim Burton movie.

Just a couple of mornings later bright sun creates contrasting reflections amidst pools of darkness.

A short walk away is the Cleveland Botanical Garden with an island of tulips greeting you at the main entrance. Continuing south on East Blvd, the Cleveland Museum of Art's new wing comes into view. It's lines offer start contrast to the original classical design.

Beyond this point the south stairs come into view with vistas of Wade lagoon and other scultpture.

With the Lagoon in the background, the morning sun washes across Chester A. Beach's "Fountain of the Waters" which sits by the south entrance to the museum. Beach was an American sculptor (1881 - 1956) and is known or his medallic art and busts.

A few miles west is the Playhouse Square area containing Cleveland's theater district. NPR affiliate WVIZ/WCPN Ideastream is headquartered there with its distinctive " Idea Center" vertical signage.

Remodelled Euclid Avenue sports modern bus shelters for the RTA Healthline as well as some interesting public art.

"Chorus Line Luminaries" by urban designer and public artist Stephen Manka challenges your vision with shifting colors as buses approach.

Manka's stainless steel sculpture is a stylized interpretation of dancers kicking in a Broadway chorus line. It is fascinating to study the light display from different angles. As the sun sets the backdrop of office buildings provide a canvas of many contrasts.

From Mountain to Metropolis - Excerpts from Pearl Exhibition

2010-05-05T21:35:00.041-04:00

Click on Image to Enlarge

Do you enjoy hiking in Cleveland's Metroparks? Do you like to peruse art galleries that feature local scenes?

This month you can do both at the North Chagrin Reservation. My solo exhibition "From Mountains to Metropolis" will be on display in the Nature Center gallery through the end of May.

"Walking Through Big Meadow"

The forty framed works show interpretive views of Cleveland's skyline, the Flats, and scenes from America's parklands. The show is free to the public and open daily from 9:30 A.M. to 5 PM. in the Nature Center adjacent to Sunset Pond. The park is accessible via the SOM Center Road entrance in Willoughby Hills.

Stuart Pearl in Sunset Pond Nature Center, N. Chagrin Reservation

"View From 42nd & Czar"

These photographs represent nearly four years of work and cover the beginning of my entry into digital photography in 2006.

"Wood Near McCauley Pond" - Shot while on vacation in the Adirondacks.

"Nowhere to Roll"

I 've seriously pursued the craft since 1969. However, my efforts from that period through this decade involved only 35mm and medium format film. With this body of work, I've digitally tried to capture familiar landmarks in a way that creates a unique viewpoint for the observer.

"Morning At Columbus Road"

"Rusted Vines Snowy Tents" Across from Settlers Landing in the Flats

"Timken Wheel and Friends"

"Marketable Sunset" End of the day at the West Side Market.

Butler Museum Accepts Flats Work

2010-04-13T20:31:00.029-04:00

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click Image to Enlarge)

Each year Youngstown's Butler Institute of American Art holds its Midyear Show. This juried competition is open to artists nationwide. I was again fortunate to have one of my photographs accepted for display in the 2010 show. The opening is Sunday June 27.

"A Rust Rose Dawn" shows the Cleveland skyline shortly after sunrise on a December morning. The Norfolk & Western railway bridge can be seen at the bottom.

View of the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge & Cleveland skyline

Heights normally terrify me. It takes a supreme act of courage for me to clean roof gutters. The Butler image was made with no less terror, from I-90's Inner Belt bridge 274 feet above the chilly Cuyahoga.

There is a very narrow metal sidewalk that separates pedestrians from roaring traffic and a cold swim. The guard rails are way to "open" for my tastes. I was able to get this shot by walking the length of the bridge, starting at the West 14th St. ramp.

I have walked this bridge a couple of times now looking for different vantage points and variations in lighting. To my shock I discovered there are others even more daring than myself. The picture above was taken during warmer times but it shows that bike riders use the interstate bridge to cross the Cuyahoga also.

There was no place to go when this lone rider came pedalling up the sidewalk. I just thought "thin" and became one with the railing. He rolled right by as if he does this everyday. That could be very likely true. Plans are underway for construction of the new Inner Belt bridge. Many have suggested a more user-friendly walkway. I can certainly understand why.Allied Corporation property on the West Bank

Views from the bridge are often unique with dramatic clouds and wonderful lighting. This panorama of the Allied operation shows gravel piles on the west bank ready for road work and other construction projects.

"The Three Roofers" Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

This early morning Tremont picture was shot during the summer as roofers repaired a church roof. It shows there is always something going on.

The city constantly changes for my lens. It's just a matter of being alert to new opportunities. The same Cleveland landmark will reveal a different face from season to season as well as from dawn to dusk. Some of these pictures end up as simple snapshots recording the ongoing history. Other images may achieve the status of "artwork," rendering an interpretation that is unique in it's composition. Hopefully all will be enjoyed.

Old Bones on Lake Erie: Cleveland's Coast Guard Station

2010-03-25T20:50:00.057-04:00

It first appears as a small white art decco shape with graceful curves sitting at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River. It has a beautiful tower and swept back walls leading to boat doors and dock facilities.

This is the Cleveland Coast Guard Station. It was designed by architect J. Milton Dyer and finished in 1940. It's construction replaced the government's Life Saving Service which had been previously housed in a smaller Cleveland facility.

I've seen the old station from a distance for years. I had always assumed access was only possible by boat. But this past winter I finally discovered the path to the old station by way of a nice hike through Wendy Park.

Today's empty shell stands in stark contrast to the beautiful property shown in this government photo from the 1950's.

Wendy Park is only a few years old, one of Cleveland's newer recreation areas. The land was purchased by Cuhahoga County in 2004.

It's a bit desolate during the winter but still is a favorite walk for dog owners and others out for some cold weather exercise. It offers some great views of the skyline, waterfront and of course the Coast Guard Station.

To get to this area it's a convoluted trip via the West Shoreway to Edgewater Park, with a further trek down the road to the Whisky Island marina. Once through the main gate you park in the lot an then start hiking.

I prefer the waterfront side north of the volleyball court as it provides distant panorama's of the Coast Guard Station. You eventually top a hill and come down to the old access road flanking the west bank of the Cuyahoga River just north of the railroad bridge.

The city of Cleveland now owns the station, having purchased it in 2004 for $1. Some stabilization of the structures was started last May with debris being removed and paint being added.

Restoration of the roof has also begun with some new support structure visible. The unique architecture strikes me as a combination of Adobe and Decco, with the tower being the most prominent feature visible. I would love to see light blazing from its crown some time in the future.

Boat storage building

Cleveland's skyline is visible from the old boat docks.

With the partial restoration of the station interest has been growing in the park and this area. Others continue to document the region's history in an effort to build enthusiasm for increased public use and recreation.

Christopher Busta-Peck, MLIS, and Christine Borne, MLIS edit Cleveland Area History. It's goal is to raise awareness of history in Cleveland and northeast Ohio. They have some interesting links as well as more photo galleries of the station.

To see more images of Cleveland's skyline and industrial flats visit Stuart Pearl's fine art galleries.

Alien Ice - Cleveland Deep Freeze

2010-01-20T19:50:00.038-05:00

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click Image to Enlarge)

I was just a few miles from downtown Cleveland.. And yet the landscape resembled a frozen moon. Bizarre shapes surrounded me in the 15 degree weather as I slowly hiked across the icy boulder field.

It had been at least 10 years since I'd last visited Cleveland's Edgewater Park Beach. Back then it was sunny and 85 degrees. Surf sprayed across the rocky beach as I strolled in shorts and shirtsleeves back then.

Today I wore a flannel shirt, fleece vest, parka, hat, hood and earmuffs. The cameras were not so well protected and the batteries died after 90 minutes.

A thin coat of bright powder covered uneven ice and it was difficult to find a safe pathway. The setting sun glared off trunk shaped icicles and caused deep shadows between the shoreline boulders.

Some of the structures resembled sea anemones, pointing skyward, in search of aerial plankton.

The odd thing was the twisted nature of these lakeshore stalagtites. In Early January while the lake was cold but still unfrozen, the high winds must have whipped the surf spray at an angle across the trees and shrubs. Ice then formed as the wind-driven droplets twisted around branches and trunks causing the extraordinary patterns.

Other structures resembled spiked leviathans foraging across the boulder strewn landscape.

With Lake Erie to the north, a few lone shrubs still manage to rise from the snow and ice.

Although the landscape fascinated me in the warm, late afternoon light, I was curious how it would appear under cooler, early morning illumination.

Returning two days later at 7:15, I encountered a bleak overcast sky with just the faintest morning glow. The quality of the light was completely different from Saturday's high contrast sun, with an emphasis now on the blue part of the spectrum.

You can see an enlarged slide show of these images by clicking HERE.

The Buck Stops Here

2010-01-17T13:10:00.008-05:00

© Stuart Pearl 2010

And a number of his friends often join him. Sometimes we'll have as many as eight deer grazing our myrtle beds, hosta plants, and other shrubbery. And during the warmer months they do this seeminlgy oblivious to the racket of yard equipment and neighborhood traffic. Who needs hamsters?

Our lot is bordered by a small wood to the east. To the back are 850' deep properties. This provides some degree of cover and safety for the adult deer. They and their young will often visit for a while, dining on our ornamentals during the summer, or digging in the winter snow for any greenery.

Our property is situated between two local park systems. To the West we have the Euclid Creek Metropark and off to the East is the North Chagrin Reservation.

Some feel the deer travel between the two parks depending upon food supply and the pressures from human activity. Either way we have daily sightings. We've actually see more wildlife in our backyard than we have during our visits to the Adirondack, Shenandoah and Smoky Mountains.

Thank You!

2010-01-11T19:17:00.012-05:00

© Stuart Pearl 2010

Fundraisers remind my of my high school PTA days, the time I spent as a Band Parent, and my years in the Jaycees. Projects are very gratifiying when they generate profit for a good cause.

This is the second year that the Cleveland Sight Center has been kind enough to use one of my photographs for their Holiday card sale. I want to thank everybody who purchased any of the cards that were offered this year. They earn revenue for critical projects, and I get some greeting cards.

Although sales were down slightly from last year, "Arch Reflections" was the top seller for 2009. Of 55,242 cards sold, it accounted for 12,582 of total sales.

Trevor & Mary Shull - November 28, 2009

2009-12-05T09:17:00.024-05:00

Now and then I'll shoot a very special wedding out of town. Last Saturday I spent a wonderful day in Columbus with the Hughes and Shull family covering Mary and Trevor's wedding day.

(A slide show of Mary and Trevor's complete photo gallery can be viewed HERE.)

The November weather cooperating perfectly with a cool but sunny and clear day. We began our photo session at the Franklin Park Conservatory. It's beautiful floral grounds mix classic architecture with avant garde sculpture and contemporary design.

The formal gardens were a perfect backdrop for Mary's classic beauty. Trevor cleaned up pretty well also.

The 5 p.m. ceremony was held at the Atonement Lutheran Church for about 120 friends and family.

The reception was held in the Whestone Park of Roses Shelter House a couple of miles from the church. Bill Hughes introduced and toasted the happy couple.

Carol Shull with son Trevor.

Click HERE to see the entire gallery of Mary and Trevor's wedding photographs. To see more work from Stuart Pearl Photography please visit my Social Event and Fine Art galleries online.

2009-11-23T16:50:00.017-05:00

Do you enjoy sending holiday cards with a local flavor? Check out the Cleveland Sight Center's website for their 2009 Holiday Greeting Card offerings.

This year I was fortunate to have "Arch Reflections" selected as one of six cards being offered by local artists. Showing the Main Avenue Bridge in the foreground, the picture was shot last January with the temperature hovering near zero. I was standing on the East Bank of the Flats. Nearby, Saturday night crowds used to throng to Fagans and D'Poos, crossing the river to Shooters using the now vacant water taxi.

The Defunct Flats Water Taxi

All proceeds benefit the Cleveland Sight Center. The profits help them provide programs and services for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. If you order 100 or more of the same card, you can have a one-line imprint of your name or company added on the inside.

Other cards offered this year feature the artwork of Andrew Morrell, Jay Patel, Richard Tuschman, Thomas Roese, and Bradley Hart.

2009-11-22T13:53:00.006-05:00

© Stuart Pearl 2009 (Click Image to Enlarge)

In my previous entry I displayed some Fall beauty from Cleveland's urban landscape. But just east of our home is the Cleveland Metroparks.

We often hike in the North Chagrin reservation. Some of our kids were in town that day and we used it as a good excuse for a relaxing hike. This is a shot of one of the overlook shelters. It's a great place to see a variety of birds and fall colors across the hills.

Flats Fall

2009-10-25T09:57:00.025-04:00

Oarsman at Jefferson Bridge Pilings (Click on Images to Enlarge) © Stuart Pearl 2009

Cleveland's brownfields sport their pallet of seasonal colors. And the Flats is no exception as we approach the Fall color peak. Even in the absence of nature's colors, light beams can make interesting patterns among the bridges and beams.

"Bridge Beams" from east bank of the Flats.

If I don't shoot at least several dozen pictures a week I gett antsy. To satisfy these urges I shoot weddings, social events, promotional work for WVIZ/PBS and the Cleveland Landscape. And the best way to do the latter is to take my camera to work. This affords me the best opportunities for interesting light.

Statuary at Federal Courthouse Building

On the early morning trip downtown or the evening return home, some of the most interesting shadows and contrasting textures fall across the landscape. Every day is different. And because Cleveland's weather is so changeable, the quality and intensity of light can change from minute to minute.

Skyscraper canyons often create unpredictable wind tunnels for the unsuspecting pedestrian. The body can be struck by the random icy blast. The same holds true for lighting. The eye can be wonderfully surprised by the unexpected beam of light spotlighting a red Maple against the canvas of dark office windows.

The Innerbelt Bridge spans not only the Cuyahoga River, but woods that support deer and other wildlife. It's only a matter of exploring the side roads and abandoned building sites. Powder white and gray bridge piers provide interesting counterpoint to bright yellow leaves.

Arches of the Terminal Viaduct have framed Cleveland's skyline since the late 1920's. Today they support RTA train traffic from Tower City to the West 25th Station and beyond.

View From Columbus Road Bridge

Want to see more images of Cleveland's skyline and the industrial flats? Click here. Other photo galleries displayed by Stuart Pearl can also be seen at this site: http://www.pbase.com/sapearl/root

The Ken Burns Effect In NE Ohio

2009-08-20T21:47:00.067-04:00

Ken Burns at the Cuyahoga Valley National Park All Images © Stuart Pearl 2009

The Ken Burns Effect describes a popular video pan and scan technique that filmmakers use with still photographs. It focuses the viewer's attention on key elements of a picture and creates heightened interest by zooming and moving across the scene.

Blue Hen Falls - CVNP (Click image to enlarge)

Burns had a similar effect on his audience as he spoke to a crowd of 200+ picnickers at the Happy Days Visitor Center on August 2, 2009. He was in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park promoting his new documentary "The National Parks - America's Best Idea .

It was directed by Burns and written and co-produced by Dayton Duncan. WVIZ/PBS coordinated his visit to the Happy Days Visitor Center , giving supporters a chance to preview excerpts from Burns' new film.

This six episode series is scheduled to broadcast on PBS stations September 27 - October 2. You can a see a short segment of this film by going to the following video link.

Brandywine Falls - CVNP

Prior to his talk, Burns worked with the WVIZ television staff to produce several videos promoting the film. The Happy Days Visitor Center provided the backdrop.

Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 it is actually within the Virginia Kendall State Park .

The bronze statue commemorates the work of all the CCC workers from that era to those who maintain current park facilities. The CCC provided jobs and education for men between the ages of 18-25.

Videographer Rich Geyser and Director Jane Temple

WVIZ/PBS production crew filming promotional commercials.

Burns arrived about 3:30 P.M at Happy Days in his rental car. CVNP was on his route to Chautauqua and then Acadia National Park in Maine. I was immediately impressed with the 56 year old filmmaker. His hair was thicker than any I've seen in my own mirror in years.

CVNP CEO Deb Yandala with Ken Burns and Ranger

Ken Burns is an excellent public speaker. He is passionate about his documentary projects and his words carry the conviction of his beliefs. He's also very approachable and a pleasure to chat with.

Teddy Roosevelt was a major proponent of the National Parks. Through legislation, lobbying and personal exploration his efforts insured the creation and preservation of these natural resources.

Carriage Trail Path - CVNP

Cuyahoga River at Rt. 82 Bridge last winter (Click on Image to Englarge).

T.R. figures prominently in Burns series. He once said "it is the preservation of the scenery, the forest, and the wilderness game for the people as a whole, instead of leaving the enjoyment thereof to be confined to the very rich. It is noteworthy in its essential democracy, one of the best bits of national achievement which our people have to their credit".

Beaver Marsh, early Spring (Click image to enlarge)

This documentary took approximately 10 years to produce with an investment of $15 million dollars. And like all of his projects, it keeps Burns travelling. He spends about 150 days on the road each year filming, at speaking engagements, and promoting his projects.

July 29 was Burns' birthday - which was spent in his automobile. In small consolation the Happy Days picnickers sang happy birthday to the film maker.

Burns says that he is making the same film over and over again. "Who are we as Americans?" This is the question addressed in "The Civil War," "Jazz," "Brooklyn Bridge," and "World War II." Now he examines the question from the perspective of America's National Parks.

Ken Burns and Stuart Pearl - CVNP 8/2/09

A Nashville 4th

2009-07-31T21:51:00.052-04:00

All Images © Stuart Pearl 2009

Some front yards have simple flower beds. But this particular Nashville lawn had been taken over by a 40 person brass orchestra. That's how they celebrate the 4th in some Southern towns.

Band Leader Jay Dawson

Jeanne and I had driven to Nashville to spend the recent holiday with our youngest daughter and new husband. We were also meeting friends at a dinner theater where one of them was the star. Her name is Betty Davis - seriously. She changed it to "Davis" a couple of years ago when she married our friend G.R. Davis.

G.R. and Betty Davis

G.R. is a professional musician and man of many talents. His expertise includes the tuba, string bass and electric bass. He plays with a couple of bands and also teaches music at Vanderbilt University.

G.R. Davis - Computer programmer by day, teacher by evening, musician at night.

He had invited us to this block party which is now in its 33rd year. Pat Burton is the gracious host who volunteers her front yard and other resources for the event.

The block party is not advertised or actively promoted. In spite of that several hundred people attended, something which happens each year.

Singer Nan Gurley

Adolpho Birch - Former Chief Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, speaking to the guests.

The first activity is the 4th of July Parade which lasts about 15 minutes. Decorated bicycles, children and their parents first march one way down the street in front of the band, make a U-turn and return a few blocks later.

Mom pointing out what happens to children who misbehave.

After the parade, residents enjoyed cold drinks from ice filled canoes as well as a large hospitality tent containing fried chicken, fruit, pastries, and other regional food.

By three that afternoon residents were returning to their homes and we started making our evening plans. G.R. and Betty have a three bedroom cabin on five acres just outside of Nashville. There is also a pasture and small barn on their property for the two horses.

That evening we grilled burgers and whipped together some homemade peach icecream. G.R. has the old fashioned hand churn for this purpose.

You first add the following to the churn: ice, rock salt, cream, several raw eggs, a bit of sugar and some frozen peaches. Then you have new son-in-law Drew vigorously crank the mechanism for a little while. The end result was delicious and unlike anything I have had in a restaurant.

Click on Image to Enlarge

Late afternoon it began raining, with a brief break for a few quick photos of the pasture and barn as the mist was rising. Thunder had spooked the horses so they weren't coming out of their shelter.

Click on Image to Enlarge

Soon after these were taken the rain restarted in earnest. Any plans of going downtown to see fireworks ended when tornado watches and warnings began scrolling across the TV. We settled for watching the the celebrations from D.C and Boston on G.R's 47" flat panel. That was very satisfying and much drier.

Globe In A Glass

2009-07-26T08:25:00.037-04:00

"Photographs Copyright Stuart Pearl 2009"

Globe In A Glass is one of the annual WVIZ/PBS fundraisers held in Cleveland's IdeaCenter. This year's event was attended by about 400 guests on July 18.

Attendees were able to sample a hundreds of wines from around the world, a seafood bar provided by McCormick & Schmick's, as well as a variety of creative desserts from a pastry buffet.

"Chefs and Manager from the Beachwood McCormick & Schmick's"

Floral arrangements provided by Flowerville of University Heights.

Normally the WVIZ Smith studio is used for broadcast and programming functions. For the Saturday event it had been converted into a reception buffet and coffee bar.

A pastry bar was set up in the Gund Dance Studio.

You can see a short video clip of the event by going to this WVIZ link and clicking on the image.

Producer Jane Temple and Vidographer Milan Jovanovic

President/CEO Jerry Wareham, Special Events Mgr Ella Fong McCormick & Schmick's Mgr.

A silent auction was held at the fundraiser with jewelry, wine, glassware and a variety of products donated by local vendors.

While photographing the event I met a number of people from around the United States as well travellers from Europe. Events like this provide a nice addition to the variety of activities that can now be found in Cleveland's Playhouse Square district.

If you didn't have a chance to attend Globe In a Glass, you may want to consider coming to the World Series of Wine which will be held November 5-7, 2009. Check the WVIZ website for further details.

Fountain Playing - Decatur, Georgia

2009-07-06T09:40:00.019-04:00

"Celebration" by Gary Price. (Click Image to Enlarge )
All Photos Copyrighted 2009 Stuart Pearl

I do little out of town travel for my job, but enjoy taking my camera when the trips become necessary. A change of venue is always good for an active lens. Most of last week was spent in Decatur, Georgia in a training class. Evenings were spent exploring the restaurants - and taking pictures.

I'd never visited Decatur and didn't know what to expect. It's about a half hour east of Atlanta. You can't fly there directly from Cleveland. It's necessary to take one of those sardine can commuter jets into Atlanta/Hartsfield which claims to be the largest airport in the world. Based on how much we had to walk I can believe that; the terminal has it's own subway system between concourses.

Decatur is an extremely charming city. It's residents are friendly and the beer is excellent. Tree covered winding roads connect beautiful neighborhoods of old mansions, with urban areas and commercial districts thrown into the mix. It's easy for the non-resident to get lost. We proved this several times with the rental car.

The old town center is built around the Dekalb County courthouse. Late afternoon views of the classic architecture remind me of scenes from Back to the Future.

Adjacent to that is a newer pedestrian mall and shop area that features some beautiful public art and sculpture. I talked to a resident who didn't care for the newer deco look, but to my eye it offered an interesting contrast in differering shapes and textures.

Most interesting was "Celebration" by Gary Price which is featured at the top of this article. Part of this statue's inscription is dedicated to Elizabeth Wilson, who was Decatur's first African-American mayor with her election in 1983.

Creative Voices - An Evening With Ruby Dee, Susan Stamberg & Michael York

2009-06-07T19:22:00.043-04:00

The Actress Ruby Dee

"You have very warm hands." These were Ruby Dee's comments to me when I recently met her at a local PBS function. I had just shaken hands with this grand lady of Broadway, and was thanking her for being such a cooperative photographic subject at this cultural arts event.

On May 27, 2009 WCPN/WVIZ Ideastream hosted a reception in the Idea Center for the 2009 Creative Voices Summit.

Special NPR correspondent Susan Stamberg, actors Michael York and Ruby Dee attended the reception prior to Thursday’s discussion. The panel was charged with discussing how the cultural aspect of a community can be reflected in it's arts.

As a volunteer photographer for Ideastream this was one of my more challenging events. It was like shooting three separate wedding receptions in the brief span of two hours.

Each of these people is fascinating in his or her own way. And each was different in the way they presented themselves to my camera.

Ruby Dee is originally from Cleveland having been born here in 1924. She is a gracious woman with a genuinely warm and friendly smile. Open to easy conversation, I can imagine chatting with Ruby about her early days in the city. She was a pleasure to photograph and very accommodating to my informal poses.

Part of Ruby Dee’s early history includes the Karamu Theater. Karamu House Inc. is the nation’s oldest multi-cultural arts institution. That organization helped launch an acting career which spans over 50 years.

Karamu’s Executive Directory Gregory J. Ashe conversing with Ruby in the Smith Theatre.

Art Falco, President and CEO PlayhouseSquare (left) Michael & Pat York, and Colleen Porter, Head of PHS Education.

Other than the fact that Michael has more hair, better looks, nicer suits, worldwide success and impressive acting talent, he and I are quite similar. Amazing – he’s nine years older than me and yet looks younger. I need to work out more.

Born in 1942 he got his start in theater and now has over 60 screen credits.

Michael York chatting with Susan Stamberg, Smith Studio (Idea Center).

Just a few of his films include Logan’s Run, Cabaret, Murder on the Orient Express and The Three Musketeers. He has also appeared on TV in episodes of Law and Order and The Simpsons as well as other productions.

Former Karamu board member Bracy Lewis (left) and current Artistic Director Terrence Spivey chat with Ruby during the reception.

"Your flash didn't go off." This was my first encounter with Susan Stamberg as she entered the Smith Studio at Ideastream. Sharon Herene of Ideastream (left) during Susan Stamberg’s introduction.

The flash DID go off for my first shot as she walked in with the staff. But I wanted to get a second, closeup image as she began talking with the guests. Unfortunately the strobe hadn't recharged yet.

It was clear by the tone of her comment that she would wait for that second shot, but only if I was quick about it. At least that was my impression of this embarrassing moment.

Susan Stamberg is an impressive and imposing individual. When she enters a room people seem to naturally move in her direction. The want to hear what she has to say. According to the official NPR bio “Stamberg is the first woman to anchor a national nightly news program, and has won every major award in broadcasting.”

Susan was a challenge to photograph in this setting. Anybody she chatted with received her full and focused attention and it was obvious the guests appreciated this consideration. This almost made me the intruder then when trying to have her face my camera. She was friendly and cordial and gave me my shots. But the attendees were her first consideration – as it should be.

Michael York and wife Pat in the WVIZ/WCPN Idea Center May 27, 2009

I can imagine sitting in a coffee shop reading the afternoon paper with Michael York. He just seems like a relaxed comfortable guy. With a quiet and laid back manner he and his wife Pat easily moved about the Smith studio chatting with local supporters of the arts.

Mark Filippell an Ideastream board member, introduced York and joked that even though the actor and wife Patricia live in Hollywood, they've been married for 40 years which is unusual for actors in that city.

Pat York is a very accomplished photographer and writer in her field. She has published several books and her work as been exhibited in museums around the world.

Pat York, photographer/writer with husband Michael York.

Additionally she has worked as a writer and photographer for Vogue, Time, Newsweek and Life just to name a few. Photography credits include portraits of Bobby Kennedy, Timothy Leary, Jack Nicholson, Andy Warhol and many others.

Michael was keynote speaker the following day at The 2009 Creative Voices Summit & Arts Education Day Luncheon in the Allen Theatre. Sponsored by Cleveland State University, the talk further discussed the state of the arts today.

Jesse Rosen, arts panel member and President of the American League of Orchestras.

Preceding the luncheon, WVIZ/WCPN was hosted the Creative Voices at the Idea Center summit in Westfield Insurance studio. Moderated by Susan Stamberg, the panel included Ruby Dee, Jesse Rosen, Tomothy Rub and Sari Feldman. Responding to questions from the audience, the group gave their views on the current state of the arts.

Ruby Dee, Dr. Joanne Schwartz, Dr. Michael Schwartz President of CSU, and Sari Feldman, Executive Director – Cuyahoga County Public Library.

Architect Philip Wasserstrom And Timothy Rub, Director of the CMA

Kit Jensen, COO of WVIZ/WCPN Ideastream with Buffy Filippell President of Teamwork Consulting.

Jonathan Forman and Susan Stamberg.

Smoky Mountain Fall

2008-12-25T21:17:00.020-05:00

All Images © 2008 Stuart Pearl

The clouds are beneath your feet. But you can easily change chairs for a different view. Every morning showcased a unique sunrise. Sometimes it was a mass of cotton candy filling the bowl in front of the deck.

Other mornings you could see blue gray peaks just breaking through the gauze. Certainly no two sunrises were alike, and each new canvas was special in its pallet of colors.

For years Jeanne and I had talked about visiting the Smoky Mountains. We finally made good on that plan in early October, shortly before my unexpected surgery. Planning such a trip starts out simple and Jeanne is an expert in the task.

We find a “green spot” on the map and then google for cabin rentals in the vicinity. Now the planning gets complex. She has tremendous patience as she reviews at least a hundred different venues. But she always makes excellent choices.

Switchback road to Sky Cove cabin

The particular rental was at 3500 feet. It was also at the end of a narrow, single lane, winding road with frequent hairpin turns. Second gear was recommended for the ascent…as well as the descent.

Our "Rental"

It’s not often I see the temperature gauge change in front of my eyes. But once we arrived at our “Sky Cove” cabin, the view was worth it.

This cabin was actually nicer than our home. We wanted our kids and their guys to join us so we rented something with multiple bedrooms. Unfortunately work and school didn’t give them the necessary free time.

Jeanne relaxing with a book after dinner

Our deck looked out upon the southern part of the Smoky Mountains. It gave great views while reading or enjoying dinner. There was a different sunrise or sunset to photograph everyday, and it was difficult to select the best images.

Livingroom and spiral staircase to the loft bedroom.

Our rental was just outside of Bryson, NC which is nearby the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Bryson is small and the main industry is now tourism.

"Downtown" Bryson, NC and Smoky Mtn. Scenic Railway

The Recession has hit this area hard. Evinrude Motor, numerous furniture manufacturers and other businesses have moved out over the past few years. If not for the gift shops, lodging rentals and new Indian Casino, income would be difficult for the area. Some still do survive on agriculture though.

One enjoyable day was spent riding the Smoky Mountain Scenic Railway.

It leaves Bryson on a 44 mile round trip traversing both the Tennessee and Nantahala Rivers, with stunning views of Lake Fontaine and their tributaries.

Approaching the Nantahala Gorge

We met a number of interesting folks from all over the United States. The train has conventional seating was well as an “open air car”.

This allows photographers an unobstructed view of the landscape.

Lake Fontaine with houseboats (below)

We also indulged our passion for hiking. Over the course of our five day Smoky stay we went on three hikes of varying difficulty. The easiest was the trip to Clingman’s Dome.

The walk to Clingman's Dome

On a clear day you can see a number of mountain tops across various states. Unfortunately fog hit the observation point the moment we arrived.

Jeanne at creek crossing on Alum Cave trail

Our most enjoyable trek was the hike up to Alum Cave Bluff. This was a 1,400 foot ascent over a one way distance of two miles.

Stu taking a break on Alum Cave hike

Anytime we do a hike of this duration and difficulty we pack lunch and plenty of water. At this time in our lives we’d quickly run out of energy without the additiona calories.

We stopped halfway up the trail at the “cave” and enjoyed our PB&J’s. Further up there is a permanent overnight camp with hot meals and showers, but that’s for hardcore backpackers. After chatting with some fellow hikers we began our 90 minute descent.

Jeanne and Stu at Alum Cave Bluff

The Smoky’s are really a beautiful place. Hopefully we can entice our extended family to join us the next time we return.

Sunset on southern range of the Smoky's

Like to see high resolution images of these views? Check out my Smoky Mountain Gallery on the web.

An Evening With Kai Ryssdal

2008-12-06T08:20:00.030-05:00

Special access can provide a photographer with some interesting subjects and opportunities. It may be a new vantage point in the Cleveland Flats. Or it can mean an introduction to media personalities.

This is how I got to chat with Kai Ryssdal back on September 25. He is the host of Marketplace on American Public Media. It was also the last photo shoot I did prior to my current injury and subsequent disability.

Jane Temple of Ideastream watches Ryssdal from the Ideacenter control room.

Kai is a charming and gracious individual with a terrific radio presence, whose unique name has Norwegian origins. Although he has hosted Marketplace since August, 2005. journalism was not always his background.

Prior to this he was a carrier based Navy pilot for eight years, a Pentagon staff officer, and a member of the United States Foreign Service .

Relaxed and wearing colorful suspenders with a theater motif, Kai and I talked as he prepared for his 6:30 PM Marketplace broadcast from WCPN’s studios.

He actually did most of the talking while I snapped candid portraits. Kai was in Cleveland to speak about the current financial crisis. That morning he responded to callers on The Sound of Ideas with Dan Moulthrop.

Later that evening Ryssdal spoke before a sell out crowd of over 200 people in the Westfield Auditorium at the Ideacenter. The Glenmede Corporation and Alpha Group Agency were sponsors of the evening.

Ryssdal traced origins of the current financial crisis, pointing out similarities and differences between 1929 and the present. He then followed up with questions from the audience. Some of the audience interaction took on a debate aspect.

I photograph a variety of subjects - it’s not all weddings or the Flats. In addition to my event and fine art photography, I donate time to the Cleveland NPR and PBS affiliate, WVIZ/WCPN Ideastream.

Several times during the year I will be contacted by the staff regarding station events.

Not only is this a fascinating community organization, but I’ve been able to meet film makers, on-air talent like Gwen Ifil and Dick Feagler, and also a number of interesting station personalities.

Ryssdal speaking to audience members on September 25, 2008.

Flats Featured in Holiday Card

2008-10-17T21:44:00.006-04:00

"Winter Arches" © 2008 Stuart Pearl

For more than 100 years the Cleveland Sight Center has served people of all ages who are visually impaired or blind.

Each year the Center has a holiday card sale which features the work of local artists, illustrators, print makers and photographers. All proceeds benefit the Center and aid them in providing programs and services for those in need.

This year I was very fortunate to have "Winter Arches" selected as one of the Holiday cards they are offering to the public. The image features an early morning view of the Detroit Superior Bridge taken last February during a bitter cold snap.

Other cards feature the work of Seth Cwast, Andrew Morell, Fran Bayless, Jeanne Regan, Al Fuchs, and famous 20th century artist and industrial designer Viktor Schreckengost. All cards are now available for this holiday season. Visit the Sight Center Sale and support a Cleveland institution.

Photos Shown In Butler Museum Exhibit Opening

2008-07-13T21:47:00.012-04:00

Each year The Butler Institute of American Art holds its Midyear Exhibition. This competition is a national juried show. Painter, print makers, and photographers from around the country submit their work. The show opened today at the Youngstown cultural institution.

This is the first year I've entered the Butler show. To my great satisfaction, all three of my submissions were accepted. The black and white print "Coming Up the Cuyahoga" won Best In Show which comes with a monetary award.

Stuart Pearl

It was additionally purchased by the museum for its permanent collection as well as by a private individual. It shows the bulk carrier Algoway being guided up the Cuyahoga by a river tug, at the Lorain Carnegie Bridge.

"Girders and Stacks"

This bridge and portions of the old Powerhouse Complex are part of my Cleveland Flats series. It shows the twin brick stacks of the Powerhouse framed by the rusting ironwork of the decommissioned B&O railroad bridge near Settlers Landing. Hidden amidst the girders you can just make out part of the Nautica Stage tent.

"Memorial Glow"

This photograph of the Veterans Memorial Bridge (Detroit Superior) was shot last winter from the old Superior Viaduct. The temperature was about six degrees as the sun rose over a crystal clear morning. Golden light illuminated the inner girders of the trusses, and I had only seconds to make the shot before the glow faded.

The picture above of the snow covered Superior Viaduct was not a show entry. But this was the vantage point for "Memorial Glow."

Our family has a tradition of involvement with the Butler Museum. My sister Sharlene Green is a very talented painter as well as college art professor and has been accepted to the Midyear Show in the past. Our father Moses Pearl had paintings shown in Butler exhibits and competitions four times since 1957. His water color painting "The Pass Over" is part of their permanent collection.

Over 800 entries were submitted for the 2008 competition. Of those, 104 pieces were selected for display from over 60 artists. The show runs from July 13 - August 24 at the Youngstown museum.

Rosewood Gallery Accepts “Steel Sunrise”

2008-07-05T08:49:00.016-04:00

This year has been very successful for juried photo competitions. In Spring I was notified that “Steel Sunrise” had been accepted by the Rosewood Gallery for their 2008 Dayton, Ohio Show.

“Steel Sunrise” Photos Copyright Stuart Pearl 2008 (Click Picture to Enlarge)

The above photo is my black and white interpretation of the Arcelor Mital Steel Mill located in Cleveland’s Flats. I felt this image was best respresented with a complete absence of color. The cubes of scrap iron, battered rail cars and smoking stacks impart a sense of grittiness that are best conveyed in shades of gray.

Between wedding and Bar Mitzvah work I love to explore Cleveland’s urban landscape. Wandering this area is very relaxing. The range of exposures provide an opportunity to hone my digital skills. This industrial zone has proven to be a fertile area for many satisfying images. Some of these have been submitted to local shows.

Morning and evening, as well as sunny or overcast woll result in totally different representations of the same landscape. I will often scout an area for weeks, experimenting with various exposures and angles before settling upon the desired image.

The above photo of Mital was shot several days prior to the black and white phot, during heavy overcast. The sunlight was spotty and my timing was all wrong for the type of shot I was seeking.

Lacking the desired impact, this print was not submitted to Rosewood. It has a pleasant painterly aspect to it, but lacks the contrast and drama of the image that ended up being accepted. I feel the success of black and white photo owes much to the sunlight which had just broken through the clouds.

Taken within minutes of that first sunlit shot is a similar view in color. It focuses on Mittal’s scrap loading rail yard.

Had it not been for my sister Sharlene Green , I never would have found out about the Rosewood competition. She is a very talented painter in her own right, has had gallery shows of her paintings, and has been accepted to various competitions over the years. She is also a college professor at Tri-C.

Sharlene had two oil paintings accepted by Rosewood this year. Her work “Foliage And Falls at Brandywine “ is one of those and can be seen below. It had previously been displayed at her Tri-C East Show in 2006.

“Foliage And Falls at Brandywine “ by Sharlene Green

Something Different - A New Gallery

2008-06-22T20:47:00.010-04:00

"McCauley Pond Woods - Adirondacks"

"Photograph something different. I'm tired of looking at pictures of the Cleveland Flats." My wife can be quite helpful with her suggestions.

I'd been hearing these comments for months. So I finally decided to do something about it. With this blog entry I am launching my new Urban & Landscape Gallery.

"By Wade Lagoon"

While the Flats body of work concentrates on industry and architecture near the Cuyahoga River and lakefront, my new gallery will contain a more random mix of images. They may include vacation shots, rural landscapes, as well as the skylines of other cities.

You can access the new gallery by clicking HERE. Once you get to the main page you can click on the photos individually to enalrge them, or click SLIDESHOW for automatic viewing. I hope you enjoy these new pictures. Drop a line and let me know what you think.

"The Hermitage - Nashville"

Photos Selected for JCC Show & Holiday Card Sale

2008-04-28T23:18:00.010-04:00

“Sunrise at State Fish” by Stuart Pearl

Since going digital I have been making a greater effort to submit work to competitions and exhibitions. This year has started off well. “Sunrise at State Fish” was accepted for exhibition at the Mandel JCC Annual Photography Show .

The JCC show is one of the largest and most prestigious open photo shows in Northeastern Ohio. The 2008 Show Opens with a reception on May 5, 7:30pm at The Mandel JCC. It is free and open to the public through June 8 during building hours.

More than 110 photographers submitted over 540 images to the competition. Approximately 65 photographs are being exhibited. "Sunrise at State Fish" was taken about 7:30 A.M. this past January as the sun was just starting to touch the silos behind the building. I’m told that part of the older structure dates to the Civil War era

“Winter Arches” by Stuart Pearl

Each year the Cleveland Sight Center holds a competition for area artists. Paintings, photographs and illustrations are submitted for possible consideration as holiday greeting cards.

My photograph “Winter Arches” was recently selected as one of the images that will be used in the Center’s 2008 holiday card sale. This is one of their fund raisers and a variety of different cards featuring area artists will be available for purchase. The cards go on sale this fall from the Sight Center.

The partial view of the Cleveland skyline was taken from the Oxbow bend on the west bank of the Cuyahoga. It is actually shot in the opposite direction of the picture showing State Fish.

Sunrise is just starting to glow in the pastel white arches of the Detroit-Superior (Hope Memorial) Bridge. The Settler’s Landing Cabin can be seen in the shadows of the opposite bank. The river is partially frozen and hundreds of noisy gulls feast upon fish trapped in the ice.

It’s hard to believe that Northeast Ohio was blasted by winter snows just last month. At one point it was difficult to even reach our driveway.

But with the recent warm weather many of our blossoming trees and shrubs have already reached their peak. These are some of the apple blossoms framing the Wade Lagoon at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Above is a sunrise view of the Museum grounds, looking directly north to the main building with it’s classic columns. The square structure just to the right of the building is part of the new museum expansion. It is scheduled to be completed in 2011 at an approximate cost of $258,000.000.

Washington Week Comes to Cleveland

2008-04-12T19:55:00.017-04:00

"Cleveland rocks and so does this political campaign. We're here to find out why, here in northeast Ohio tonight on "Washington Week."

This was how Gwen Ifill opened the special Cleveland Edition of Washington Week on April 4. I had an opportunity to meet her and see firsthand how the show is set up and televised. WVIZ/ Ideastream had asked me to photograph the broadcast as well as an evening cocktail party where Ms. Ifill met local executives, station supporters, and donors.

Gwen Ifill became moderator of Washington Week in 1999 which is PBS's longest running public affairs program. She also works as senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."

This week’s show was broadcast from Waetjen Auditorium on the campus of Cleveland State University. It was then followed by a special edition which was tailored to the local audience.

The staff of Washington Week and WVIZ converted CSU's music hall into a temporary television studio for this special event. The broadcast audience was composed of students and Cleveland residents.

Ms. Ifill was accompanied by a round table of some of the nations top business and political reporters.

On stage were Alexis Simendinger, National Correspondent with the National Journal, John Dickerson, Chief Political Correspondent for Slate.com, Jeanne Cummings from the Wall Street Journal, and Michael Duffy, Assistant Managing Editor at Time Magazine.

Also in the audience was Sam Fullwood, Plain Dealer reporter and longtime friend of Ms. Ifill. He was introduced during the Cleveland edition broadcast of Washington Edition which gave the audience opportunity to pose questions to the panel. The sub prime mortgage meltdown, foreclosures, unemployment and the presidential race were some of the areas covered.

The evening before the broadcast Gwen visited Ideastream and met with community leaders and station benefactors. She spoke to the guests about her years in journalism and fielded questions from the floor about working in Washington, politics and the upcoming election.

Also attending the Thursday evening reception was Dick Feagler, Plain Dealer columnist and host of the weekly interview program Feagler & Friends on WVIZ/PBS.

The complete April 4th, 2008 Washington Week broadcast can be seen in the archive at the WVIZ/Ideastream site.

All photographs copyright Stuart Pearl Photography 2008. Please visit my website at http://www.pearlphoto.com/ and also my online galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sapearl

An Alternative View from the 21st Century

2008-02-01T23:12:00.000-05:00

Herbert Ascherman

Digital is a relative newcomer to the world of photography. People love it because the results are immediate. It’s fun to see your pictures right away.

But this instant gratification belies the fact that early photographs required hours if not days of hard and dangerous work, before the final picture could be viewed. For more than 150 years, other techniques evolved at the hands of photographers, chemists, and scientists, crafting the processes that would become today’s modern images.

A dedicated group of very creative people work hard to insure that the old techniques don't die. And under Herb Ascherman's guidance they were brought together for a unique visual effort.

(L to R: Richard Wolf, Charles Caito, Greg Martin, Bruce Gates, Jeannette Palsa, Herb Ascherman, Ryan Durdella, Roy Woda)

These individuals comprise The Cleveland Society of Alternative Photographers . An exhibit of their work is currently on display at The Plain Dealer Gallery, 1801 Superior Avenue. I am not a member of this talented group of Clevelanders but had been invited to photograph the show’s opening.

These are not digital images captured in a matter of seconds. Thousands of hours of meticulous hand crafted work and wet processing technique went into the production of these fine art prints.

Jeannette Palsa

According to the group’s website: “The Society seeks to encourage, enhance and preserve the 19th Century photographic techniques known as The Alternative Processes.

Ryan Durdella

These processes include, but are not limited to: Daguerreotypy, Platinum, Albumen, Collodian, Cyanotype, and Gum Bichromate printing methods among others.”

Greg Martin

Herbert Ascherman is Co-Founder of The Cleveland Society of Alternative Photographers and was responsible for organizing the show. Jeannette Palsa is Co-Founder and Secretary of the organization .

Bruce Gates

I have no qualifications as an art critic and would never attempt to judge this show. But it is enjoyable because of it’s uniqueness. One does not often see works of this nature separately, let alone in a single collection utilizing common technologies from a bygone era.

Charles Caito

Because of the way they were processed, some of the prints take the viewer on a private journey into past eras of stone columns, elegant archways and stately mansions. And even when the subjects are contemporary, the viewer is often presented with delicate and soft images reminiscent of past centuries.

Richard Wolf

The exhibitors include Herb Ascherman, Jeannette Palsa, Charles Caito, Ryan Durdella, Bruce Gates, Roy Woda, Greg Martin and Richard Wolf.

Roy Woda

Herbert Ascherman introduces the show's exhibitors.

Approximately 75 - 100 guests viewed the show which is displayed on two levels of the Plain Dealer atrium. The exhibit continues through February 29, 2008.

Herb with Bill Jean, widely acclaimed artist and one of the PD Gallery's exhibit schedulers.

Herbert Ascherman, Shirley Stineman Director of Community Affairs for the Plain Dealer and Mindy Tousley, gallery scheduler.

A gallery of photographs taken at the show can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Cleveland: City Mood - November Winds

2007-12-14T20:10:00.000-05:00

There's the old Cleveland joke about our climate. If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes...... it'll change. What may have started as a pleasant sunrise reflecting off the Hope Memorial bridge at 9 A.M. could end up as a rush hour thunderstorm by day's end.

Visitors to our city don't really don't appreciate this statement until they've spent some time here. But Living on the Northcoast, Clevelanders enjoy Lake effect snow and rain, blistering summers, ice storms, high winds, and temperatures that can vary over 110 degrees in a single year.

Many of us feel this area offers great compensation for the winter slush and cold. You get beautiful spring blossoms followed by spectacular fall foliage. Short as the summer may seem, it is ideal for boating, hiking, picnicking and visiting area attractions.

As an east sider we often see heavy dark storm clouds coming in out of the West. One minute we may be enjoying a beautiful sunset over the West Side Market or a pastel backdrop framing an ore freighter moored on the Cuyahoga.

And within less than an hour, a twilight overcast can roll right over the downtown skyline. Building tops will disappear in fog. Short ragged waves will dance along the Cuyahoga. High winds and stinging rain will lash across the bridges and roadways.

But most of the really nasty weather comes out of the Northwest. Before the heavy snows arrive we get the Alberta Clippers blasting in over Lake Erie right out of Canada.

Lake Erie's waters remain relatively warm into the fall. In late November the cooler western and Canadian air begins washing over it. The warm lake air rises and collides with this cold front. First we get sleet on the roads along with pea sized hail. As the temperature continues to drop, we get our famous lake effect snow.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame sits right on the edge of the Inner Harbor. Built in 1995, it's glass and steel frame is designed to withstand 150 MPH winds. Fortunately we rarely get lakefront gusts above 60MPH. Either way you don't want be at water's edge when the lake takes on a stormy aspect.

Photography Under Surveillance

2007-11-06T20:38:00.000-05:00

"I-90 Bridge Over the Flats"

“I can see him walking down the West steps. Yes, he’s the guy with the beard and camera. He’s taking pictures of the railroad tracks right now…..”

I could overhear the young security guard as he spoke into his walkie talkie. He was obviously reporting my step by step movements to somebody in the building’s command center. Was that a laser dot I imagined on the back of my neck? Or was I just being paranoid?

"West of the Federal Courthouse"

Fortunately I’d made the guard’s friendly acquaintance a few minutes earlier. I had even given him a business card. “My specialty is weddings,” I cheerily said “If you know anybody getting married I’d be glad to provide a free quote. I also do other social events.”

"On the Detroit Superior Bridge"

This was a recent encounter I had on my way to work. I’d stopped at a downtown street corner with camera in hand to take advantage of the Fall morning light as it spread across downtown Cleveland.

The sun is quickly getting lower in the sky. The shadows are growing longer. This creates an intriguing pastel interplay over the bridges and tracks that crisscross the Flats. It’s a photographer’s dream and my favorite shooting venue. Unfortunately I was capturing these scenes from the plaza of the Federal Courthouse. My actions attracted a security guard who seemed to appear from nowhere.

"Ore Freighter Alcoway on the Cuyahoga"

Our “introduction” went well since I made it a point to be pleasant and cooperative in response to his questions. I even referred him to my website where he could view my work. I have no doubt that he and a variety of cameras kept a close watch on me. But I made sure to direct my camera and attention away from the Federal building. They don't like people taking closeup photos of the building.

"A Rainy View from the Superior Viaduct"

I respect law enforcement. Police, the Feds and security guards have a tougher job today since 911. Anything perceived as suspicious behavior becomes suspect. Mundane activities can really be hidden threats. In partial defense of the Establishment I can understand this attitude.

"Guardian of Transportation - Hope Memorial Bridge"

The urban photographer can easily fall into the category of suspicion as he walks around the city, loitering with camera in hand, studying the shadows and detail, looking for the next “great shot”. Will photographing a bridge attract unwanted attention? Does aiming a camera at a freighter look suspicious? If you seem too interested in a Federal building does that imply an ulterior motive?

I know what I am doing when I photograph a cityscape. But how does that appear to law enforcement? Extra effort must be made to act responsibly and with common sense these days. Now more than ever you have to be aware of your surroundings.

"Near the Oxbow Area"

On the way back to my car I cut through a parking lot. The attendant spotted me and quickly approached. "What are you doing here with that camera?" Again, I explained my photographic interest in the Flats and gave him a business card. We chatted a little. Eventually he seemed convinced that I was harmless.

"The reason I stopped you is because last week there was another guy going through the lot with a camera. He was taking pictures of all the cars. We think maybe he was a car thief making up some inventory photos for interested buyers." Now that's something I never would have thought of myself.

Click on photo to see full panoramic image

Horsing Around at Landerhaven

2007-10-24T22:24:00.000-04:00

The horseplay was only minor. Bit it did add to the fun I had photographing the wedding of Megan McCoy and Brian Astman at Landerhaven on October 13, 2007.

As much as I like recording Cleveland’s urban landscape, I also enjoy covering weddings and social events. This has been going on now for over 30 years.

Working with Megan, Brian and their large wedding party of 18 was a lot of fun that Saturday.

They were easy to work with and made the day fly right by. I have to say they were a pretty handsome looking group too.

Other than a cool Fall breeze the weather was cooperative. We were able to do much of the preliminary group and casual portraiture on Landerhaven’s beautiful grounds prior to the ceremony. I prefer doing this beforehand as it's less stressful for the bride and groom later in the day.

There is nothing worse than a nagging photograper insisting upon a shot list late into the evening.

The ceremony began at 6:30 P.M. with Robert Stephens and Henry Cogan officiating. At that point the weather was starting to turn and a few rain drops could be felt.

Dark clouds began rolling in and the temperature was steadily dropping. Fortunately umbrella's were not necessary and the ceremony was over by 7 P.M.

Mother of the Bride Linda McCoy toasting the couple.

When I first started covering weddings in 1973, I was typically close in age to that of the bride and groom. Now I am usually the age of their parents. The irony of Megan's wedding is that both the bride and my daughter Jennifer went to high school together.

These were only a few shots from Megan and Brian's wedding day. You can view their entire online proof gallery by clicking THIS link.

Once you arrive at the first screen, click on slideshow (upper right corner) to view all the photos in sequence.

If you wish to order any of the photograhs, you can do so by either contacting the bride or clicking on my ORDER FORM. Print out the form, complete the necessary information and then mail it back to me with a check for the appropriate amount.

Want to learn more about Stuart Pearl Photography? Visit my website or call me on (440) 449-2782.

Ponte Vecchio - Different Perspective for this Photographer

2007-10-06T23:29:00.000-04:00

I’m not a restaurant critic. But give me a beautiful night out with my wife Jeanne, good food in a fine eatery with great views of the city, and I can be a very happy man.

All of this came together Saturday night. To celebrate Jeanne's birthday, we had a delicious dinner at Ponte Vecchio Restaurant in the Flats, atop the old Superior Viaduct.

I discovered Pont Vecchio by accident while looking for new photography venues. I’m currently building a Flats portfolio and I try to visit familiar as well as new areas of the city under different lighting conditions. The Superior Viaduct provides great views of the skyline as well as areas of the Flats and Cuyahoga River.

To reach the Viaduct from downtown, head west on the Detroit-Superior bridge to W. 25th Street. Turn right when you get to the light. Drive a few hundred feet until you see Superior Viaduct road on the right. Turn right again and drive through the iron gate until you see the restaurant on the left, halfway down what remains of the Viaduct.

It’s hard to say if many know about this area. Condos, apartments and restaurants are now replacing what used to be old warehouses and machine shops.

While some city neighborhoods continue deteriorate, this is one pocket that seems to be staging a comeback.

Unfortunately it’s very easy to drive by this area off W. 25th if you’re not aware of the new construction. You cannont easily see the restaurant from the main road. However, it’s worth the search for both the food and the view.

Jeanne and I had a very pleasant and relaxing evening at Pont Vecchio. It was was fantastic weather for a Saturday night out. We were also fortunate to meet Britanny Smith, charming daughter of Pont Vecchio's owner who told us a little bit about the establishment.

Leaving the restaurant we took a stroll to end of the viaduct to view the city lights and the river below. Who would think we’d still be enjoying 80F+ weather in October here in Cleveland?

Want to see more photographs of the Cleveland skyline? Click HERE. Additional images can also be seen in my Flats Gallery.

Please visit my website at Stuart Pearl Photography.

"Envisioning Cleveland" Exhibit Opens at CSU

2007-09-29T12:15:00.000-04:00

What do local photographers think of Cleveland? How is the city perceived through their lens? Are their images viewed as art, social commentary or both?

These are some concepts that were explored in the September 27, 2007 introductory speech by Professor Helen Ligget for Envisioning Cleveland , a new urban photography exhibit. It has just opened in the Levin College for Urban Studies near Playhouse square.

Professor Ligget works in the related fields of urban and planning theory at Cleveland State University, as well as visual culture and photography.

This is the first exhibit I’ve been involved with in years and four of my works are hanging in the show. Enlargements of these can be seen in my prior blog article about the College's competition.

Professor Helen Ligget

It was very gratifying to enjoy the support of friends and family who attended the opening . But my foremost appreciation is to my wife Jeanne who helped make the final selections, and then assisted me in framing the works. She also accompanied my mother Ida Pearl to the gallery.

Jeanne Pearl

Joining her was my brother Arnie and his girlfriend Lori Berenson.

Also in attendance were Joe Polevoi, my long time friend from the Ohio Bell days, and his wife Marcia of Coventry’s “High Tide-Rock Bottom” fame.

[Joe & Marcia Polevoi on Oct. 1, 2005 the day before the store closed]

Close friend and coworker Mark Long joined us to view my work as well as the other entries.

Mark is a notable Cleveland artist in his own right, being an accomplished musician and writer of several compositions.

Mark Long

Our furthest visitors on opening night were Lisa Beachler and her husband Jim who drove up from Warren, Ohio just to see the opening. Lisa and I are members of the “ Photography-on-the-Net” forum where members share tips on photography, critique work and mentor each other in technique and composition. Not only is she a fellow wedding photographer, but Lisa actively photographs Warren sports teams.

Lisa and Jim Beachler

Other good friends Frank and Marybeth Skala were also in attendance for the event. Frank and I have known each other since our early Ohio Bell days back in the mid ‘70’s.

Louise & Brian Bowman

In a postscript to the opening day reception, long time Florida friends Louise and Brian Bowman came up from St. Augustine. at the end of October for visit. Cheap air fare and an excuse to see old friends was all the reason they needed for a visit to Cleveland. We go all the way back to 1969.

The exhibit will continue on through December of this year.

About 175 submissions had initially been made, with the committee selecting 40 works from 26 local artists.

All of the submissions can still be seen at the Levin College online gallery. At its completion, plans are being considered to move the collection of work to other venues in the city for public viewing.

Stuart Pearl

Pearl to Exhibit In "Envisioning Cleveland" Show

2007-09-15T20:50:00.000-04:00

It's been years since I’ve submitted photographs to exhibitions and competitions. Raising a family and working at my regular job has occupied much of my time. But recent photographic projects have paid off.

Last week I was notified that four of my submissions to the “Envisioning Cleveland” photo competition had been accepted. Some of my recent “Flats” images will be displayed alongside works of other photographers in the atrium gallery of the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban affairs at Cleveland State University.

The Envisioning Cleveland exhibit will open with a public reception on Thursday September 27, 2007 from 5:30 – 7:30. The Levin College of Urban Affairs is located at 1717 Euclid Avenue. The building is on the northeast corner of Euclid and E. 17th Street.

A total of 175 photographs were submitted online to the Envisioning Cleveland competition. The judges chose 40 works representing 26 local photographers. These selections will be displayed in the Levin College gallery.

"The Brothers Grim" © Stuart Pearl 2007

My selected work features scenes of downtown Cleveland and the nearby industrial Flats. All images were shot within the past six months as I tried to capture the sun's early morning and late afternoon impact on the urban landscape. Everything was shot with a digital SLR, processed through photoshop and then output to an Epson R1800 printer.

The picture shown at the top of this article , “Crooked River Pyramids” was shot before 8 A.M. shortly after it had stopped raining. The downpour had created fascinating reflections both on the river and among the gravel yards. It felt like I was looking down on a Tonka Truck playground of bridges, trucks and boats.

“The Brothers Grim” was shot in the same area as Crooked River Pyramids and the title refers to spray painted grafitti on the concrete. It had been an overcast morning and I was waiting for the sun to break through to illuminate the bridge pylon. Timing is everything; patience can be boring.

© Stuart Pearl 2007

“Afternoon Fog Over the Inner Harbor “ was one of those Cleveland weather anomalies that we experienced this past May. It was also featured in an earlier article. Taken from a hill next to the Great Lakes Science Center, I was experimenting with a circular polarizing filter and a new ultra wide angle lens I’d just purchased.

“New Geometry against an Old Theme” was shot just a block from where I work downtown. Again, the low angle morning light generated perfect contrast and shadow across the RTA Train Station.

If you are in the city that day we hope you can make the opening of the show. While the web makes it possible to share art across the world in seconds, it is not the same as viewing a matted and framed 15"x10" photographic print in a properly lit gallery setting.

Margaret Bourke-White, the Flats and My Dad

2007-07-21T22:27:00.000-04:00

I wonder if Margaret Bourke-White walked the same roads. Perhaps she focused her lens on the same old bridges during her Cleveland years. These are thoughts that I have as I explore the industrial Flats and the riverbanks of the Cuyahoga with camera in hand. For Bourke-White it was all about the interplay of light and shadow among the structures she discovered. The bridges, factories and smokestacks were a fantastic playground for her creative eye. I think I now understand some of what she saw more than 70 years ago.

See more Cleveland photos at: http://www.pbase.com/sapearl/cleveland_flats

Margaret Bourke-White might be surprised by many of the new structures that comprise downtown Cleveland and the Flats today. But I believe she would still recognize those signs of the early steel industry which spread across the Flats last century. Many of these factory and bridge structures still exist today. They remain a testament to what was once a center of thriving industry and steel manufacturing.

Arrival in Cleveland
Bourke-White photographed Cleveland during her short residency here from 1927-1930. Those early images were diverse, covering both the steel industry as well as private residences of the wealthy which were then published in Town and Country Club News. (1)

The industrial pictures focused on ore processing in the old Otis Steel Mills. After extensive experimentation, she was able to create images of the manufacturing process that had never before been published.

I’ve been reading Bourke-White’s excellent autobiography Portrait of Myself.(2) Her book has been somewhat of an inspirational roadmap for my summer project photographing the Flats. She was Fortune Magazine’s first photographer and a forerunner in the field of photojournalism. Her notable images include those of Stalin, Churchill and Ghandi, as well as the Great Depression and WWII. She has the distinction of being the first female accredited war correspondent.

It is Bourke-White's early years in Cleveland that have special meaning for me. She was enthralled by the massive machine images

of the area's growing industry. Our cameras were attracted to the same industrial subjects.

Bourke-White came to Cleveland in 1927, arriving by overnight ferry from Buffalo. Margaret wrote in her autobiography: "I stood on the deck to watch the city come into view. As the skyline took form in the morning mist, I felt I was coming to my promised land...columns of machinery gaining height as we drew toward the pier, derricks swinging like living creatures. Deep inside I knew these were my subjects."

The Cleveland shoreline is now quite different from that 1927 view. Some bridges have been demolished while others and have been closed and now point forever skyward. Whiskey Island’s Huelett ore unloaders ceased operation in December of 1992. They were dismantled in 2000. Although steel production has dwindled in the Flats, you can still see remnants of the city’s industrial heritage along the banks of Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River.

The Artist Moses Pearl

Many artists and craftsmen have been drawn to the Flats over the past 150 years during its industrial age. From the middle of the last century until just a few years ago, my father Moses Pearl spent many mornings visiting the Flats. He could often be seen standing at his easel with charcoal pencil or paint brush in hand. As an urban landscape artist he captured a variety of those industrial images on both canvas and sketchpad.

Dad would return home after his sketch trips and promptly display the new work in his studio for all of us to view. It was always fascinating for our young family to see which new factory structure, river bend or sweeping bridge arch he had chronicled on canvas. Even though we lived in the suburbs, we were treated to new glimpses of the city almost every week during this period of our lives.

And with this window into a fascinating and unusual environment, it was probably inevitable that I would explore the same crooked streets and factory structures when I grew older.

Medium Format View
My photo trips to the Flats began in 1974. I chose camera and film instead of brush and canvas, and my tool of choice was the medium format twin lens reflex. That summer I bought a used Mamiya C220 TLR which was my first pro level camera. It created a square negative measuring 2 ¼” x 2 ¼”.

Rugged, easy to use, and with simple manual adjustments, it was an inexpensive way to get into medium format photography. It also created an image that was more than three times the size of a 35mm negative. This larger film format made it possible to create highly detailed enlargements with excellent resolution.

During this period I had also started doing part time wedding and social event photography. The Mamiya proved to be a boost to my wedding work which in turn helped to finance my fine art efforts. By using a professional format camera, I was now able to offer images that were superior to those of my competitors who still used 35mm equipment.

Encouragement

Dad encouraged my pursuit of photography as an art form. To that end he built a modest but functional darkroom in our basement. I developed and printed my first medium format negatives in that small room in our suburban home.

Nearly 50 years earlier, Bourke-White followed a similar passion as she created her iconic images of Cleveland's industry and manufacturing operations. Her darkroom was located in the new Terminal Tower complex. Besides capturing images of steel production in the Otis Mills, she had also documented construction of the Terminal complex for the Van Swearingens. She always matched her tools to the task, shooting large format film for her industrial images. Later as a photojournalist she adopted more compact cameras and smaller film formats.

I professionally shot medium format film for more than three decades. Most of this was wedding and social event photography. In 1998 I upgraded from Mamiya to the Hasselblad equipment, one of the finest medium format SLR systems ever made. The lenses are superb and the camera itself is both ergonomic and extremely reliable. It’s no surprise that Hasselblad accompanied NASA on the moon trips.

Whenever I had spare time I would always return to Flats and the Lake Erie shoreline. Cleveland’s seasonal changes create a variety of lighting conditions that can generate some fascinating images. Family vacations were also an opportunity to photograph the National Parks. I loved doing medium format work in all of these locations.

Transition

Late in 2005 I realized I had to make the switch to digital if I were to continue with event photography. This was a difficult and painful decision. I had always been a film person and was very reluctant to set aside the Hasselblad equipment.

My rationale for changing was both financial and competitive. Lab costs for film processing were spiraling upwards. Many of the pro labs no longer printed directly from film negatives. Commercial labs still processed film in the conventional manner, but then scanned and digitally printed the images. This “middle” step was not only slowing my workflow but it was potentially degrading some of the detail and tonal range of the original film capture. At the same time, my competitors were delivering more pictures to their clients, very extensive coverage, and enhanced finishing services at costs I couldn’t touch with film.

I bought my first digital single lens reflex camera in the spring of 2006. After months of research I decided upon the Canon Camera system and now use 5D in my pro work. I also acquired some wonderful zoom lenses that which simply were not available for my medium format equipment. Coupled with auto-focus and improved exposure technology, I was now in a better position to compete.

Digital View of the Flats

My transition to digital has offered a variety other benefits. It is now much easier pick up the camera on a whim, experiment, and view the printed results almost instantly. I no longer have to wait several days for UPS to deliver the results from my commercial lab. If the exposure is undesirable, it can be changed and verified on the LCD in a matter of seconds.

All of this has meshed very nicely with my summer project photographing the Cleveland Flats. Just as Bourke-White would always try to match the proper camera to the job, I believe she would have enjoyed the evolution to digital. She loved technological advancement and marveled at the 20th Century's early machines.

She experimented with the latest lighting techniques, films and paper emulsions in order to get her breakthrough Otis Steel Mill shots. And it was those early industrial images which brought her to the attention of Henry Luce, creator of Fortune, Time and Life magazines. I believe the dSLR would have been welcome in her camera bag.

Summer Project

In the summer of 2007 I took the 5D into the flats for the first time. I have never been a morning person, but looking at things photographically my favorite part of the day is prior to 9 A.M. The low angle sun casts cool shadows and intricate patterns across the bridges, trestles and old factory buildings. I prefer this to the midday sun which blasts the landscape flat into an uninteresting canvas that lacks texture and depth.

At least one day a week I would get up early to make either a quick scouting or shooting trip into the Flats. Photography is often spontaneous but planning for the best light will usually result in the most gratifying images. If time permits, I would also return to the same areas after 5 P.M. to see what new angles and shapes were revealed by the hotter afternoon sun.

Cleveland’s Flats and the downtown skyline continue to change. Margaret Bourke-White documented that urban evolution for a short period early in the 20th century. This was an era of growth and expansion for the city. But by the time she had gone on to become one of the century’s greatest photojournalists, local steel production had hit its zenith. In the latter half of the 20th century Cleveland had gone into industrial decline. Fortunately the city’s commerce had diversified into finance, insurance and healthcare, moving segments of the region into the new century with some vitality.

From a visual standpoint there is no doubt that the city has changed. The ore boats still wind their way up the Cuyahoga through the Flats, but the streets no longer echo to the sounds of the Otis Steel Mills as they did back in 1929.

By 1930 Bourke-White had taken a position with Fortune Magazine in New York City and enjoyed a penthouse studio in the Chrysler building. She would often look out her windows and marvel at the city’s moods. Fog, rain, snow and sun all offered wonderful vistas for her camera. And it was her stay in Cleveland that helped Bourke-White to develop that critical eye for light and shadow.

The Northcoast has well defined seasons, and each dresses the city in a different mood. The changeable weather offers many viewpoints and perspectives. Although much of my recent Flats photography was done this past summer, I hope to return in the Fall and Winter to capture different aspects of the same venues.

Passing of Artists

Margaret Bourke-White died in 1971. Her passing was coincidentally six months after I had purchased my first serious film camera. At that point in my life though I was not even aware of her role in photojournalism. While she had been struggling for years with Parkinsons, I was just a kid growing up in the suburbs.

My father passed away more recently in August of 2003. His paintings of Cleveland covered nearly every wall of our home and he had always been a strong creative influence on me. Both Moses Pearl and Margaret Bourke-White deeply affected the way I regard the city, but in ways that I have only truly come to appreciate recently. Perhaps I’m seeing some of my dad’s old watercolor paintings through the viewfinder, or a vantage point that Bourke-White might have contemplated. Either way, I think they would have been pleased with my efforts.

Flats Gallery Photos

Want to see more photographs of Cleveland's Industrial Flats and the Cuyahoga River? Visit my gallery at:

http://www.pbase.com/sapearl/cleveland_flats

Sources:

Interpretations of Black and White and Color

2007-06-04T21:04:00.000-04:00

© 2007 Stuart Pearl http://www.pearlphoto.com/

We’ve all had our favorite teachers. One of mine was Michael Kuzma. He was an excellent photography professor at Miami University more than 30 years ago. Mike taught me advanced camera technique as well as a solid regimen of darkroom and lighting skills. Some of his words stay with me today:

“The main impact of a color photo is often the color itself. But the striking feature of a good black and white image is usually the subject matter or the message that the artist is trying to convey.”

Consider these two pictures. They both show Cleveland’s Inner Harbor with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on the right and William Mather freighter to the left.

The city is noted for it’s changeable weather and that day experienced a mix of sun and fog. Although both pictures were created from the same digital file, I “finished” them in different ways: one is displayed in its original color while the other was converted to black and white. The result conveys two entirely different moods.

The color version reminds me of a soft watercolor painting. It’s tonal “feel” is reminiscent of the 19th century painters except for the contradiction caused by the modern architectural shapes and sharp angles. I feel this visual conflict makes the picture even more interesting. The black and white version has a completely different mood. Instead of warmth and wistfulness it conveys a sense of foreboding and potential danger. It could be the jacket cover for a detective novel or a movie poster introducing a movie thriller.

Software like Photoshop enables us to manipulate images in ways similar to the techniques used in traditional wet darkrooms. At the very least it enables us to modify saturation, contrast and exposure as well as highlight and shadow detail. In the extreme we can develop Dali-esque abstractions. Beautiful and fanciful images can be created as well as the stuff of nightmares.

Perhaps we are giving up the magic of seeing an image slowly appear in the darkroom tray. In exchange though, the technology of digital has made it easier to experiment with our imagination and see those results almost instantly.

Taking the Blog Route

2007-05-03T22:36:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the blog of Stuart Pearl Photography. For some time friends had urged me to "blog" as a way to present fresh photographic content. They also felt it was a dynamic alternative to the more static website. Creating this blog represents a new direction for me.

Initially I was not a fan of blogs. To me they were just another kind of website. But once I started reading blogs of others in the arts, I discovered that they showed depth and creativity in a “journalistic” way. Their blogs often portrayed a fluid day to day progression of their craft. The concept interested me.

It’s now apparent that a well organized blog can be very effective for presenting new images as well as commentary related to my love of photography. Toward that end I will try to provide an interesting blend of both images and text.

You can look forward to seeing a variety of features in my blog. Mainly it will be used to display current photographs as well as provide links to galleries showing more of my images. Periodically I will write articles on my experience with the art and craft of photography. And finally, this site will be used to showcase events and places that I’ve photographed over the years as well as those projects in which I am currently involved.

Hopefully this area will also generate more interest in my website http://www.pearlphoto.com/ . And if you would like to view working proofs of weddings and other social events that I've covered, you can also visit my proof galleries at: http://www.pbase.com/sapearl/root&page=all . Thank you.